초록 ▼

The present invention provides a septal defect closure device (10) having a first occluding disk (30) having a first flexible membrane (32) attached to a first frame (34) and a second occluding disk (20) having a second flexible membrane (22) attached to a separate second frame (24). The first frame

The present invention provides a septal defect closure device (10) having a first occluding disk (30) having a first flexible membrane (32) attached to a first frame (34) and a second occluding disk (20) having a second flexible membrane (22) attached to a separate second frame (24). The first frame has at least two outwardly extending loops joined to one another by flexible joints. These loops are attached to the first membrane to define taut fabric petals when the first disk is in a deployed configuration. A central portion of the first membrane is joined to the central portion of the second membrane via a joining segment, which may comprise a conjoint disk. The flexible joints of the first frame are received within the joining segment. This septal defect closure device provides enhanced retrievability.

대표청구항 ▼

What is claimed is: 1. A method of deploying a defect closure device, comprising: providing an elongate delivery catheter having a lumen; providing a closure device having expandable proximal and distal frames, the proximal and distal frames being coupled to each other and wherein the distal frame

What is claimed is: 1. A method of deploying a defect closure device, comprising: providing an elongate delivery catheter having a lumen; providing a closure device having expandable proximal and distal frames, the proximal and distal frames being coupled to each other and wherein the distal frame includes a plurality of loops originating from a central attachment region and extending radially outwardly from the central attachment region and including a plurality of flexible joints configured to facilitate collapse of the distal frame upon retrieval, the plurality of flexible joints being disposed on the central attachment region; reversibly delivering the closure device from the catheter into a defect of a patient such that the proximal and distal frames are fully expanded on opposite sides of the defect and wherein the closure device is capable of being retracted back into the lumen from its fully expanded configuration within the patient by withdrawing a drawstring attached to the proximal frame to collapse the proximal frame and by collapsing the distal frame along the plurality of flexible joints. 2. The method of claim 1, further comprising withdrawing the drawstring for retracting the closure device back into the lumen. 3. The method of claim 1, wherein a distal end of the catheter is advanced distal to the defect before retracting the distal frame of the closure device back into the catheter. 4. The method of claim 3, wherein the distal frame engages the distal end of the catheter for collapsing the distal frame along the plurality of flexible joints. 5. The method of claim 1, further comprising proximal and distal membranes disposed along the proximal and distal frames, the proximal and distal membranes being joined along the central attachment region. 6. The method of claim 5, wherein the central attachment region forms a conjoint disk. 7. The method of claim 1, further comprising a plunger for delivering the closure device from the catheter. 8. The method of claim 1, wherein two drawstrings are attached along a periphery of the proximal frame. 9. The method of claim 8, wherein the two drawstrings are configured to pull radially inward along the periphery of the proximal frame for collapsing the proximal frame. 10. A method of deploying a defect closure device, comprising: providing an elongate delivery catheter having a lumen; providing a closure device having expandable proximal and distal frames, at least one frame being covered with fabric, and at least one frame having a plurality of loops originating from a central attachment region and extending radially outwardly from the central attachment region and including a pluralty of flexible joints configured to facilitate collapse of the at least one frame upon retrieval, the plurality of flexible joints being disposed on the central attachment region, wherein each of the plurality of loops extends radially outwardly generally parallel to the plane of the fabric in a fully expanded configuration; and urging the closure device out from the catheter such that the proximal and distal frames are fully expanded on opposite sides of the defect. 11. A retrievable closure device for sealing a defect in a human heart, comprising: a proximal occluding disk including a proximal membrane disposed along an expandable proximal frame; a distal occluding disk comprising an expandable distal frame having a plurality of loops originating from a central attachment region and extending radially outwardly from the central attachment region, the distal frame including a plurality of flexible joints configured to facilitate collapse of the distal occluding disk upon retrieval, the plurality of flexible joints being disposed on the central attachment region; and at least one drawstring coupled to the proximal occluding disk; wherein the proximal and distal occluding disks can be fully expanded on opposite sides of the defect and wherein the closure device is retrievable back into a lumen of a delivery catheter by withdrawing the drawstring for collapsing the proximal frame and by collapsing the distal frame along the plurality of flexible joints. 12. The closure device of claim 11, wherein the distal occluding disk includes a distal membrane disposed along the distal frame. 13. The closure device of claim 11, wherein said proximal and distal frames are made of a superelastic material. 14. The closure device of claim 11, wherein two drawstrings are coupled to the proximal occluding disk. 15. The closure device of claim 14, wherein the drawstrings are releasably coupled to locations along a periphery of the proximal frame. 16. The closure device of claim 15, wherein the drawstrings are configured to pull radially inward along the periphery for collapsing the proximal frame. 17. The closure device of claim 15, wherein the drawstrings extend through at least two eyelets disposed along the periphery of the proximal frame. 18. The closure device of claim 17, wherein the eyelets function as torsion springs for facilitating the expansion of the proximal frame at the defect. 19. The closure device of claim 11, wherein the proximal and distal frames are elastically biased into an expanded position. 20. The closure device of claim 11, wherein the proximal and distal occluding disks are configured for independent deployment on opposite sides of the defect. 21. The closure device of claim 11, wherein the proximal and distal occluding disks are each generally round in shape when in an expanded position. 22. The closure device of claim 11, wherein the proximal membrane is formed of a relatively porous material for permitting ingrowth of collagen and fibrous tissue into the material. 23. The closure device of claim 11, further comprising a plunger for urging the closure device out from the delivery catheter during deployment. 24. The method of claim 10, further comprising urging the closure device out from the catheter while the closure device is connected to a string. 25. The method of claim 24, wherein the at least one frame having a plurality of loops is the distal frame, and further comprising retracting the closure device back into the lumen by withdrawing the string attached to the closure device and causing the distal frame to collapse along the plurality of flexible joints positioned within the central attachment region. 26. The method of claim 25, wherein the at least one frame having a plurality of loops comprises eyelets at an apex of each of the loops. 27. The method of claim 26, wherein drawstrings are provided through the eyelets. 28. The closure device of claim 11, wherein each loop has an eyelet positioned at an apex thereof. 29. The closure device of claim 11, wherein the central attachment region is ring-shaped. 30. The closure device of claim 11, wherein the proximal frame comprises a plurality of loops each having an eyelet at an apex thereof. 31. The method of claim 1, further comprising retracting the closure device back into the lumen from its fully expanded configuration within the patient by withdrawing a drawstring attached to the proximal frame to collapse the proximal frame and by collapsing the distal frame along the plurality of flexible joints.