US 20060195134A1
(i9) United States
(12) Patent Application Publication oo) Pub. No.: US 2006/0195134 Al
Crittenden (43) Pub. Date: Aug. 31,2006
(54) DEVICE, SYSTEM, AND METHOD FOR AIDING VALVE ANNULOPLASTY
(75) Inventor: James F. Crittenden, Hollis, NH (US)
Correspondence Address:
MEDTRONIC VASCULAR, INC.
IP LEGAL DEPARTMENT
3576 UNOCAL PLACE
SANTA ROSA, CA 95403 (US)
(73) Assignee: Medtronic Vascular, Inc., Santa Rosa, CA
(21) Appl. No.: 11/069,335
(22) Filed: Feb. 28, 2005
Publication Classification
(51) Int. CI.
A61M 29/00 (2006.01)
(52) U.S. CI 606/192
(57) ABSTRACT
A device comprising a reference ring that may be temporarily disposed in abutment with the inferior perimeter surface of a heart valve to aid non-optical visualization of the valve annulus. The reference ring is elastically transformable between a straight delivery configuration and a generally circular or helical deployment configuration. The reference ring may include an inflatable portion that can be temporarily expanded on the inferior side of the valve annulus to deform the valve annulus into a temporary ledge or shelf for apposition with an annuloplasty ring. A system comprising a delivery catheter including a lumen with an exit port, the reference ring being slidably positionable within the lumen and being extendable from the exit port.
