[54] METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR
MINIMALLY INVASIVE TREATMENT OF
CHRONIC VENOUS INSUFFICIENCY
[75] Inventors: Michael D. Laufer; H. DuBose
Montgomery, both of Menlo Park,
Calif.
[73] Assignee: Vnus Medical Technologies, Inc.,
Sunnyvale, Calif.
[21] Appl. No.: 812,758
[22] Filed: Mar. 6, 1997
Related U.S. Application Data
[62] Division of Ser. No. 367,063, Dec. 30, 1994, Pat. No. 5,609,598.
[51] Int. CI.6 A61F 2/24; A61B 17/10
[52] U.S. CI 606/142; 606/108; 606/139;
606/151; 623/2
[58] Field of Search 606/108, 139,
606/142, 143, 151, 152, 158, 191, 232, 200; 623/2
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"Total opening valves for a ventricular prosthesis", W.
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Primary Examiner—Michael Powell Buiz
Assistant Examiner—Daphna Shai
Attorney, Agent, or Firm—Fulwider Patton Lee & Utecht,
LLP
[57] ABSTRACT
The invention is embodied in an appliance or a prosthesis and a delivery catheter for use in a vein for minimally invasive treatment of chronic venous insufficiency. The system and method of the invention eliminate the need for open surgical valve repair procedures, obviate the need for arm vein transplantation into the leg, and allow patients to return to their former active lifestyles without the limitations currently associated with the treatment of this condition. An incompetent valve to be repaired is identified by injected contrast through the delivery catheter or similar means and the catheter is positioned at that valve, a clip appliance or similar prosthesis is deployed from the catheter and affixed to the valve. Next, the delivery catheter is repositioned and appliances or prostheses are deployed on sequentially lower valves until all desired valves are repaired and functionally competent.
3 Claims, 8 Drawing Sheets
