Transventricular Implant Tools and Devices
Patent Number: US 7,722,523 B2
Transventricular implant tools, invented by Todd J. Mortier and colleagues, are used to place a transventricular splint into a patient’s heart. The transventricular splint primarily works to reduce mechanical heart wall muscle stress. The transventricular splint (number 12 in Figure 19) includes a tension member that is anchored to the heart. The surgeon first identifies entry and exit points for the tension member. The tension member extends across the ventricle and through the wall at these points on either side. Outside of the heart, the tension member is attached on both sides to pads (14) that lie securely against the outer wall of the ventricle. The walls of the heart are drawn together and the tension member is trimmed to the desired length. The anchor pads are then secured to the heart. This device reduces the radius of curvature of the ventricle wall, thereby reducing the tension that can develop in the wall and altering the tension of the chordae. This splint is especially relevant for patients who have mitral regurgitation due to heart failure because reducing tension in the heart walls will help to prevent heart failure from occurring again and worsening the regurgitation problem. An additional benefit of the splint is that, by bringing the walls of the left ventricle together, it may shrink the annulus of the mitral valve to reduce mitral regurgitation.
Transventricular implant tools, invented by Todd J. Mortier and colleagues, are used to place a transventricular splint into a patient’s heart. The transventricular splint primarily works to reduce mechanical heart wall muscle stress. The transventricular splint (number 12 in Figure 19) includes a tension member that is anchored to the heart. The surgeon first identifies entry and exit points for the tension member. The tension member extends across the ventricle and through the wall at these points on either side. Outside of the heart, the tension member is attached on both sides to pads (14) that lie securely against the outer wall of the ventricle. The walls of the heart are drawn together and the tension member is trimmed to the desired length. The anchor pads are then secured to the heart. This device reduces the radius of curvature of the ventricle wall, thereby reducing the tension that can develop in the wall and altering the tension of the chordae. This splint is especially relevant for patients who have mitral regurgitation due to heart failure because reducing tension in the heart walls will help to prevent heart failure from occurring again and worsening the regurgitation problem. An additional benefit of the splint is that, by bringing the walls of the left ventricle together, it may shrink the annulus of the mitral valve to reduce mitral regurgitation.