Coremedic Ag

Universitât Bern

Oliver Wüthrich

Silvio Schaffner

Tobias Aeschlimann

Thomas Bauer

Thierry Carrel

Louis Weidmann

Stijn Vandenberghe

Rolf Vogel

Alberto Weber

Stefan Guggisberg

Andreas Mächler

A sutureless implant for replacing damaged natural chordae tendineae of a human or possibly animal heart, the implant including a distal implant part, a proximal implant part, and an artificial chord. The distal implant part is configured to fit in a lumen of an implant delivery device and includes a self-spreading portion spreading radially outside when the distal implant part is released from the lumen, the self-spreading portion being capable of anchoring the distal implant part in human muscle tissue. The proximal implant part is configured to fit in the lumen of the implant delivery device and comprises a self-spreading portion spreading radially outside when the proximal implant part is released from the lumen, the self-spreading portion being capable of bearing on a tissue portion of leaflet tissue. The distal implant part and the proximal implant part are connected by the chord.

Medical implant and method for heart valve repair

An instrument for repairing an atrioventricular heart valve, the instrument including a tubular element having an outer, distal end; a distal implant part arranged in the tubular element; an artificial chord arranged in the tubular element; a proximal implant part arranged in the tubular element; and, an anchor carrier arranged in the tubular element. The distal implant part and the proximal implant part are arranged in the tubular element beside one another, with the distal implant part being closer to the distal end of the tubular element than the proximal implant part The proximal implant part is assembled with the anchor carrier inside the tubular element so that the tubular element prevents the proximal implant part from escaping from the anchor carrier as long as the anchor carrier is within the tubular element.

Medical apparatus and method for heart valve repair

A sutureless implant for replacing damaged natural chordae tedingeae of a human or possibly animal heart, the implant including a distal implant part, a proximal implant part, and an artificial chord. The distal implant part is configured to fit in a lumen of an implant delivery device and includes a self-spreading portion spreading radially outside when the distal implant part is released from the lumen, the self-spreading portion being capable of anchoring the distal implant part in human muscle tissue. The proximal implant part is configured to fit in the lumen of the implant delivery device and comprises a self-spreading portion spreading radially outside when the proximal implant part is released from the lumen, the self-spreading portion being capable of bearing on a tissue portion of leaflet tissue. The distal implant part and the proximal implant part are connected by the chord.

A surgical instrument implementing a leaflet grabbing mechanism by a leaflet grabbing structure, in which the leaflet can be grabbed and clamped between first and second abutment surfaces. The first, proximally facing abutment surface belongs to a swivel-out portion of the leaflet grabbing structure, which includes at least a first arm and a second arm. In a released state, when the leaflet grabbing structure is released from a catheter, the arms are capable of swiveling: the first arm may swivel with respect to a main body to which it is attached, and the second arm may swivel relative to the first arm so that in a leaflet grabbing position the first abutment surface faces proximally. The second arm includes a recess arranged so that a chord extending between a released distal implant part and a proximal implant part can extend therethrough and be released by a lateral relative movement.

Medical instrument and method for heart valve repair

A surgical instrument for treating atrioventricular valve prolapse of the drained human heart, includes a handle for being held by a surgeon, a shaft extending distally from the handle, the shaft having a lumen open to a shaft distal end, a cannulated needle arranged in the shaft; with a distal end of the needle protruding from the shaft distal end at least in one possible needle position. The needle accommodates a first, distal implant equipped for being anchored in a papillary muscle, and a second, proximal implant shaped to hold on to a leaflet of an atrioventricular valve, the first and second implants each including a chord connector portion for connecting the respective implant to an artificial chord. The apparatus further includes a trigger arrangement for releasing the first, distal implant upon a first release actuation and for releasing the second, proximal implant upon a second release actuation.

Growing community of inventors

Herrenschwanden, Switzerland

Oliver Wüthrich