| Guided Delivery Systems Inc. Patent applications |
| Patent application number | Title | Published |
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| 20120101442 | DEFLECTABLE GUIDE - Described herein are devices and methods for guide catheters having one or more regions of increased flexibility. A flexibility region comprises one tubular segment of the guide catheter with a non-linear longitudinal seam between two non-concentric layers of material having different durometers. A non-linear seam, such as a zig-zag or sinusoidal configuration, permits controlled compression of lower durometer material between portions of higher durometer material. | 04-26-2012 |
| 20110207996 | DEVICES AND METHODS FOR CARDIAC ANNULUS STABILIZATION AND TREATMENT - Devices and methods generally provide enhanced stabilization, exposure and/or treatment of a cardiac valve annulus. Methods generally involve introducing a stabilizing member beneath one or more leaflets of a heart valve to engage the annulus at an intersection between the leaflets and the interior ventricular wall of the heart. Force is then applied to the stabilizing member to stabilize and/or expose the valve annulus. In some embodiments, the stabilizing member may include a series of hydraulically driven tethered anchors, such as hooks or clips, for engaging and cinching valve annulus tissue to decrease the diameter of a regurgitant valve. Alternatively, other treatments may be delivered by a stabilizing member, such as radiofrequency energy, drugs, bulking agents or shape memory stents. A second stabilizing member may also be introduced above the leaflets for further stabilization. | 08-25-2011 |
| 20100160937 | DEVICES, METHODS, AND KITS FOR GASTROINTESTINAL PROCEDURES - Devices, methods and kits for restricting a portion of a GI tract by tightening tissue are provided. The devices, methods and kits can be used to treat GERD or obesity. The devices, methods, and kits do not require the formation of plications in tissue walls and may result in faster application, reduced surgical trauma, reduced risk, and reduced cost. The devices comprise a plurality of tissue-engageable anchors coupled to a tether. Each anchor is secured to a tissue wall of the GI tract. The anchors are secured to the tissue wall in a manner that may minimize tissue damage. The tether is configured to be cinched to draw the anchors together, which in turn draws the tissue secured to the anchors together, thereby tightening tissue to restrict a portion of the GI tract. | 06-24-2010 |
| 20100094248 | MULTI-WINDOW GUIDE TUNNEL - Described herein are devices and methods for delivering implants that comprise multiple coupled anchors. The anchors are secured to tissue using a multi-opening guide tunnel that is configured to releasably retain one or more portions of the implant located between two of the anchors. The releasable retention of one or more intervening portions of the implant maintains the position of the implant and the guide tunnel until the implant is secured to the tissue. The multi-opening guide tunnel permits securement of the multiple anchors without requiring repositioning of the guide tunnel for each anchor. | 04-15-2010 |
| 20100049213 | DEVICES AND METHODS FOR TERMINATION - Devices and methods for locking and/or cutting tethers during a tissue modification procedure are described. In some variations, a tether may be used to tighten or compress tissue by bringing two pieces or sections of the tissue together. The tether, which may be under tension, may be locked to maintain the tension, and excess tether may be severed, using one or more of the devices and/or methods. The devices and/or methods may be used, for example, in minimally invasive procedures. | 02-25-2010 |
| 20100023056 | TETHER-ANCHOR ASSEMBLIES - Anchors, tethers, knot configurations and other coupling mechanisms used to secure tethers to anchors or other implants are described. The knot configurations described may provide enhanced knot security and/or tensile strength, while also occupying relatively little volume. In some variations, the surfaces of a tether and/or an anchor or other implant may be at least partially coated with one or more agents and/or may be at least partially textured. | 01-28-2010 |
| 20090287187 | DEFLECTABLE GUIDE - Described herein are devices and methods for guide catheters having one or more regions of increased flexibility. A flexibility region comprises one tubular segment of the guide catheter with a non-linear longitudinal seam between two non-concentric layers of material having different durometers. A non-linear seam, such as a zig-zag or sinusoidal configuration, permits controlled compression of lower durometer material between portions of higher durometer material. | 11-19-2009 |
| 20090222083 | MULTI-WINDOW GUIDE TUNNEL - Described herein are devices and methods for delivering implants that comprise multiple coupled anchors. The anchors are secured to tissue using a multi-opening guide tunnel that is configured to releasably retain one or more portions of the implant located between two of the anchors. The releasable retention of one or more intervening portions of the implant maintains the position of the implant and the guide tunnel until the implant is secured to the tissue. The multi-opening guide tunnel permits securement of the multiple anchors without requiring repositioning of the guide tunnel for each anchor. | 09-03-2009 |
| 20090209950 | ELECTROPHYSIOLOGY CATHETER SYSTEM - Described herein are devices and methods for treating tissue, comprising a catheter with a plurality of access sites and a plurality of sensors associated with the access sites. The catheter may be positioned along a tissue surface and the sensors may be used to identify a target site along the tissue surface using the plurality of sensors. Analysis of the tissue surface by the sensors is performed without requiring repositioning of the catheter. In some examples, the access sites of the catheter are side openings along a length of the catheter and the plurality of sensors are electrodes configured to measure electrophysiology parameters. In these examples, the catheter may comprise an internal lumen which permits a treatment device, such as an ablation catheter, to be slidably positioned at the desired target site without requiring displacement of the catheter. In other examples, the catheter may comprise a plurality of fixed ablation elements associated with the plurality of access sites. | 08-20-2009 |
| 20080294177 | METHODS AND DEVICES FOR TERMINATION - Devices and methods used in termination of a tissue tightening procedure are described. Termination includes the cinching of a tether to tighten the tissue, locking the tether to maintain tension, and cutting excess tether. In procedures involving anchors secured to the tissue, the tether is coupled to the anchors and the tissue is tightened via tension applied to the anchors by cinching the tether. In general, the devices and methods can be used in minimally invasive surgical procedures, and can be applied through small incisions or intravascularly. A method for tightening tissue by fixedly coupling a first anchor to a tether and slidably coupling a second anchor to the tether, securing both anchors to the tissue, applying tension to the tether intravascularly, fixedly coupling the tether to the second anchor, and cutting the tether is described. The tissue to be tightened can comprise heart tissue, in particular heart valve annulus tissue. Various devices and methods for locking the tether in place and cutting excess tether are described. | 11-27-2008 |
| 20080243150 | DELIVERY DEVICES AND METHODS FOR HEART VALVE REPAIR - Devices, systems and methods facilitate positioning of a cardiac valve annulus treatment device, thus enhancing treatment of the annulus. Methods generally involve advancing an anchor delivery device through vasculature of the patient to a location in the heart for treating the valve annulus, contacting the anchor delivery device with a length of the valve annulus, delivering a plurality of coupled anchors from the anchor delivery device to secure the anchors to the annulus, and drawing the anchors together to circumferentially tighten the valve annulus. Devices generally include an elongate catheter having at least one tensioning member and at least one tensioning actuator for deforming a distal portion of the catheter to help it conform to a valve annulus. The catheter device may be used to navigate a subannular space below a mitral valve to facilitate positioning of an anchor delivery device. | 10-02-2008 |
| 20080234815 | DEVICES AND METHODS FOR CARDIAC ANNULUS STABILIZATION AND TREATMENT - Devices and methods generally provide enhanced stabilization, exposure and/or treatment of a cardiac valve annulus. Methods generally involve introducing a stabilizing member beneath one or more leaflets of a heart valve to engage the annulus at an intersection between the leaflets and the interior ventricular wall of the heart. Force is then applied to the stabilizing member to stabilize and/or expose the valve annulus. In some embodiments, the stabilizing member may include a series of hydraulically driven tethered anchors, such as hooks or clips, for engaging and cinching valve annulus tissue to decrease the diameter of a regurgitant valve. Alternatively, other treatments may be delivered by a stabilizing member, such as radiofrequency energy, drugs, bulking agents or shape memory stents. A second stabilizing member may also be introduced above the leaflets for further stabilization. | 09-25-2008 |
| 20080234728 | DEVICES AND METHODS FOR HEART VALVE REPAIR - Devices and methods provide enhanced treatment of a cardiac valve annulus. Methods generally involve contacting an anchor delivery device with the valve annulus and releasing a plurality of coupled anchors from the anchor delivery device to secure the anchors to the annulus. Anchors, which in some embodiments are super-elastic or shape memory self-securing anchors, are then drawn together to tighten the annulus. Devices generally include an elongate catheter having a housing at or near the distal end for releasably housing a plurality of coupled anchors. The housing may be flexible, may conform to a valve annulus, and in some embodiments may be coupled with an expandable member to enhance contact of the housing with annular tissue. In one embodiment, self-securing anchors lie approximately flat within the delivery device housing, allowing anchors with relatively large deployed shapes to be housed in and deployed from a relatively narrow delivery device. | 09-25-2008 |
| 20080234704 | DELIVERY DEVICES AND METHODS FOR HEART VALVE REPAIR - Devices, systems and methods facilitate positioning of a cardiac valve annulus treatment device, thus enhancing treatment of the annulus. Methods generally involve advancing an anchor delivery device through vasculature of the patient to a location in the heart for treating the valve annulus, contacting the anchor delivery device with a length of the valve annulus, delivering a plurality of coupled anchors from the anchor delivery device to secure the anchors to the annulus, and drawing the anchors together to circumferentially tighten the valve annulus. Devices generally include an elongate catheter having at least one tensioning member and at least one tensioning actuator for deforming a distal portion of the catheter to help it conform to a valve annulus. The catheter device may be used to navigate a subannular space below a mitral valve to facilitate positioning of an anchor delivery device. | 09-25-2008 |
| 20080234702 | DEVICES AND METHODS FOR HEART VALVE REPAIR - Methods and devices provide constriction of a heart valve annulus to treat cardiac valve regurgitation and other conditions. Embodiments typically include a device for attaching a cinching or tightening apparatus to a heart valve annulus to reduce the circumference of the annulus, thus reducing valve regurgitation. Tightening devices may include multiple tethered clips, multiple untethered crimping clips, stabilizing devices, visualization devices, and the like. In one embodiment, a plurality of tethered clips is secured circumferentially to a valve annulus, and the tether coupling the clips is cinched to reduce the circumference of at least a portion of the annulus. Methods and devices may be used in open heart surgical procedures, minimally invasive procedures, catheter-based procedures, and/or procedures on beating hearts or stopped hearts. | 09-25-2008 |
| 20080234701 | DEVICES AND METHODS FOR HEART VALVE REPAIR - Methods and devices provide constriction of a heart valve annulus to treat cardiac valve regurgitation and other conditions. Embodiments typically include a device for attaching a cinching or tightening apparatus to a heart valve annulus to reduce the circumference of the annulus, thus reducing valve regurgitation. Tightening devices may include multiple tethered clips, multiple untethered crimping clips, stabilizing devices, visualization devices, and the like. In one embodiment, a plurality of tethered clips is secured circumferentially to a valve annulus, and the tether coupling the clips is cinched to reduce the circumference of at least a portion of the annulus. Methods and devices may be used in open heart surgical procedures, minimally invasive procedures, catheter-based procedures, and/or procedures on beating hearts or stopped hearts. | 09-25-2008 |
| 20080228032 | CARDIAC VISUALIZATION DEVICES AND METHODS - Devices and methods for facilitating transvascular, minimally invasive and other “less invasive” surgical procedures generally include a sheath with an expandable balloon at the distal end, an inflation lumen for expanding the balloon, and a device passage lumen for allowing passage of one or more surgical instruments. The sheath is configured to house at least one visualization device such that an optical element of the device is positioned to view the surgical site. In some embodiments, instruments may be passed through the sheath, with the distal balloon partially or fully circumscribing or encircling the instruments. Any suitable instrument(s) may be passed through sheaths of the invention, such as a surgical clip applier for repairing a heart valve, an ablation member for treating atrial fibrillation, one or more pacemaker leads, a coronary sinus access device or the like. | 09-18-2008 |
