US 12,171,485 B2
Systems and methods for leaflet cutting using a hook catheter
Richard Thomas Childs, San Francisco, CA (US); Scott C. Mosher, San Francisco, CA (US); Lauren Troxler Harvey, Austin, TX (US); Koji J. Kizuka, Redwood City, CA (US); and Ajitkumar B. Nair, Pleasanton, CA (US)
Assigned to Evalve, Inc., Santa Clara, CA (US)
Filed by Evalve, Inc., Santa Clara, CA (US)
Filed on May 3, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/306,392.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/020,665, filed on May 6, 2020.
Prior Publication US 2021/0346089 A1, Nov. 11, 2021
Int. Cl. A61B 18/14 (2006.01); A61B 17/128 (2006.01); A61B 17/32 (2006.01); A61B 17/3209 (2006.01); A61B 18/00 (2006.01); A61B 18/08 (2006.01); A61M 25/01 (2006.01)
CPC A61B 18/1492 (2013.01) [A61B 17/3209 (2013.01); A61B 18/082 (2013.01); A61M 25/0136 (2013.01); A61M 25/0147 (2013.01); A61B 17/1285 (2013.01); A61B 2017/320052 (2013.01); A61B 2018/00369 (2013.01); A61B 2018/00601 (2013.01); A61B 2018/144 (2013.01); A61M 25/0108 (2013.01)] 22 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A system for severing leaflet tissue at a cardiac valve, comprising:
a guide catheter having a proximal end and a distal end, wherein the distal end of the guide catheter is steerable to a position proximal a first orifice in a cardiac valve;
a hook catheter having a proximal end and a distal end including a distal end portion, wherein the distal end of the hook catheter has a memory material such that the distal end portion is biased to a pre-defined shape, wherein the system has an arrangement in which the distal end portion extends beyond the distal end of the guide catheter and through the first orifice such that a portion of the distal end portion is distal the leaflet tissue, the distal end portion of the hook catheter extends around and distal the leaflet tissue along an arcuate path until the distal end of the hook catheter moves in a proximal direction toward a second orifice of the cardiac valve and is disposed proximate to the second orifice;
a cutting mechanism extending from the distal end portion of the hook catheter, the cutting mechanism configured to sever a portion of leaflet tissue of the cardiac valve; and
a handle coupled to the proximal end of the guide catheter, wherein at least one control on the handle is configured to selectively actuate the cutting mechanism and to selectively rotate the hook catheter around a horizontal arc such that leaflet tissue of the cardiac valve is selectively severed in a pre-defined arc defined by the radius of the distal end portion.