1. A heart valve implant comprising:
a shaft extending generally along a longitudinal axis of said heart valve implant;
a spacer coupled to said shaft between a first and a second end region of said shaft, said spacer configured to interact with at least a portion of at least one cusp of a heart valve to at least partially restrict a flow of blood through said heart valve in a closed position;
at least one anchor configured to be coupled to said first end region of said shaft; and
at least one safety stop extending generally radially outwardly from said longitudinal axis of said heart valve implant beyond at least a portion of an outer perimeter of said spacer, said at least one safety stop configured to at least partially restrict a movement of said heart valve implant with respect to said heart valve in at least one direction.
2. A heart valve implant according to claim 1, wherein a cross-section of said at least one safety stop is greater than a cross-section of said heart valve in at least one dimension.
3. A heart valve implant according to claim 1, wherein said at least one safety stop extends generally radially outwardly from said shaft between said spacer and said second end region of said shaft.
4. A heart valve implant according to claim 3, wherein said at least one safety stop is disposed proximate a distal most portion of said second end region of said shaft.
5. A heart valve implant according to claim 1, wherein said at least one safety stop extends generally radially outwardly from said shaft between said spacer and said first end region of said shaft.
6. A heart valve implant according to claim 1, wherein said at least one safety stop includes a first safety stop extending generally radially outwardly from said shaft between said spacer and said second end region of said shaft and a second safety stop extending generally radially outwardly from said shaft between said spacer and said first end region of said shaft.
7. A heart valve implant according to claim 1, wherein said at least one safety stop extends generally radially outwardly from said at least one anchor.
8. A heart valve implant according to claim 1, wherein said at least one safety stop includes a first safety stop extending generally radially outwardly from said shaft between said spacer and said second end region of said shaft and a second safety stop extending generally radially outwardly from said at least one anchor.
9. A heart valve implant according to claim 1, wherein said at least one safety stop includes a generally circular outer perimeter.
10. A heart valve implant according to claim 9, wherein said at least one safety stop includes at least one spoke extending generally radially outwardly from said heart valve implant to said generally circular outer perimeter.
11. A heart valve implant according to claim 9, wherein said at least one safety stop includes a substantially solid, disc-like geometry.
12. A heart valve implant according to claim 11, wherein said at least one safety stop includes at least one openings configured to allow fluid to flow through said substantially solid, disc-like geometry.
13. A heart valve implant according to claim 1, wherein said at least one safety stop include at least one segment extending generally radially outwardly less than 360 degrees along a radius of said heart valve implant.
14. A heart valve implant according to claim 13, wherein said at least one safety stop includes a plurality of individual segments, wherein each segment extends generally radially outwardly less than 360 degrees along a radius of said heart valve implant.
15. A heart valve implant according to claim 13, wherein said at least one segment is no larger than the interior, radial dimensions of a delivery catheter lumen in at least one direction.
16. A heart valve implant according to claim 15 wherein said at least one segment is configured to be coupled to said heart valve implant upon delivery via said delivery catheter lumen.
17. A heart valve implant according to claim 1 wherein said at least one safety stop comprises an expandable portion.
18. A heart valve implant according to claim 17, wherein said expandable portion comprises an inflatable bladder.
19. A heart valve implant according to claim 17, wherein said expandable portion comprises a shape memory material configured to recoverably deform.
20. A heart valve implant according to claim 1, wherein at least a portion of said at least one safety stop includes a coating material configured to promote cell growth between said at least one safety stop and at least a portion of tissue adjacent said heart valve implant.
21. A method of restricting movement of a heart valve implant with respect to a heart valve comprising:
providing a heart valve implant comprising a shaft, a spacer coupled to said shaft between a first and a second end region of said shaft, at least one anchor configured to be coupled to said first end region of said shaft, and at least one safety stop extending generally radially outwardly from said heart valve implant beyond at least a portion of an outer perimeter of said spacer;
at least partially collapsing said heart valve implant;
percutaneously inserting said at least partially collapsed heart valve implant into a heart;
securing said at least partially collapsed heart valve implant within said heart;
expanding said collapsed heart valve implant, wherein said at least one safety stop is configured to at least partially restrict a movement of said heart valve implant with respect to said heart valve in at least one direction.
22. A method according to claim 21, wherein percutaneously inserting said collapsed heart valve implant comprises a catheterization intervention.
23. A method according to claim 22, wherein percutaneously inserting said at least partially collapsed heart valve implant comprises inserting said heart valve implant into a lumen of a catheter and delivering said heart valve implant to said left ventricle via said catheter.
24. A method according to claim 21, wherein said at least one safety stop comprises an expandable structure.
25. A method according to claim 24, wherein said at least one safety stop comprises a shape memory material, and expanding said heart valve implant comprises raising a temperature of said at least one safety stop to a temperature equal to, or greater than, an activation temperature of said shape memory material.
26. A method of restricting the movement of a heart valve implant comprising:
engaging an anchor into coronary tissue;
providing a shaft coupled to said anchor;
providing a spacer coupled to said shaft, said spacer configured to interact with at least a portion of at least one cusp of a heart valve to at least partially restrict a flow of blood through said heart valve in a closed position; and
providing at least one safety stop extending generally radially outwardly from said heart valve implant beyond at least a portion of an outer perimeter of said spacer, said at least one safety stop configured to at least partially restrict a movement of said heart valve implant with respect to said heart valve in at least one direction.
27. The method according to claim 26, wherein said at least one safety stop comprises an expandable portion.
28. A heart valve implant comprising:
a shaft;
a spacer coupled to said shaft between a first and a second end region of said shaft, said spacer configured to interact with at least a portion of at least one cusp of a heart valve to at least partially restrict a flow of blood through said heart valve in a closed position;
at least one anchor configured to be coupled to said first end region of said shaft; and
at least one safety stop extending generally radially outwardly from a longitudinal axis of said heart valve implant, wherein said at least one safety stop is configured to have a cross-section greater than a cross-section of said heart valve in at least one dimension.
29. A heart valve implant according to claim 28 wherein said at least one safety stop is configured to at least partially restrict a movement of said heart valve implant with respect to said heart valve in at least one direction.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
1. A structural element comprising:
at least one first component comprising:
a top;
a bottom;
at least one elastic tube of a first type sealed to said top and said bottom; and
at least one valve in operable communication with said tube of a first type to permit pressurization thereof;
an elastic tube of a second type sealed to said top and said bottom and incorporating at least one opening for filling and co-extensive with, and adjacent to, said at least one tube of a first type, said tube of a second type establishing at least one chamber of a first type between said at least one first component and said elastic tube of a second type and establishing a chamber of a second type, the external dimensions of which chamber of a second type are defined by the internal perimeter of said tube of a second type and said top and said bottom;
at least one port for access near the top of and at least one port for access near the bottom of said tube of a second type; and
cohesion-less particles,
wherein upon pressurizing said at least one chamber of a first type and filling said chamber of a second type with said cohesion-less particles, said structural element becomes a rigid mass capable of supporting loads significantly greater than when said at least one chamber of a first type is not pressurized.
2. The structural element of claim 1 said at least one chamber of a first type further comprising first and second chambers of a first type, said first chamber of a first type external to said chamber of a second type and said second chamber of a first type centered within said chamber of a second type, concentric and co-extensive with the long axis of said chamber of a second type, the boundary of said second chamber of a first type defined by a third elastic tube sealed to said top and said bottom.
3. The structural element of claim 2, said first and second chambers of a first type being in fluid communication with each other.
4. The structural element of claim 1 in which said cohesion-less particles comprise man-made material.
5. The structural element of claim 1 in which said cohesion-less particles comprise dry sand.
6. The structural element of claim 1 in which said top comprises a cylinder of height much less than its diameter, said cylinder incorporating passages for transferring said cohesion-less particles.
7. The structural element of claim 6, said cylinder being rigid.
8. The structural element of claim 1 in which said bottom comprises a cylinder of height much less than its diameter, said cylinder incorporating passages for transferring said cohesion-less particles.
9. The structural element of claim 8, said cylinder being rigid.
10. A system facilitating rapid deployment of a structural element, comprising:
at least one first component comprising:
a top;
a bottom;
at least one elastic tube of a first type sealed to said top and said bottom; and
at least one valve in operable communication with said tube of a first type to permit pressurization thereof;
a elastic tube of a second type sealed to said top and said bottom and incorporating at least one opening for filling and co-extensive with, and adjacent to, said at least one tube of a first type, said tube of a second type establishing at least one chamber of a first type between said at least one first component and said elastic tube of a second type and establishing a chamber of a second type, the external dimensions of which chamber of a second type are defined by the internal perimeter of said tube of a second type and said top and said bottom;
at least one port for access to said tube of a second type;
cohesion-less particles;
at least one source for pressurizing said at least one elastic tube of a first type; and
at least one source for providing said cohesion-less particles to said chamber of a second type,
wherein upon pressurizing said at least one chamber of a first type and filling said chamber of a second type with said cohesion-less particles, said structural element becomes a rigid mass capable of supporting loads significantly greater than when said at least one chamber of a first type is not pressurized.
11. The system of claim 10, said source for providing said cohesion-less particles further comprising:
a vessel;
a conduit in operable communication with said vessel; and
a pump in operable communication with at least said conduit,
wherein said conduit originates near the bottom of said vessel and terminates near the top of said chamber of a second type when filling said chamber of a second type and said conduit originates near the top of said vessel and terminates near the bottom of said chamber of a second type when emptying said chamber of a second type.
12. The system of claim 10, said source for pressurizing comprising at least one air compressor.
13. The system of claim 10, said at least one chamber of a first type further comprising first and second chambers of a first type, said first chamber of a first type external to said chamber of a second type and said second chamber of a first type centered within said chamber of a second type, concentric and co-extensive with the long axis of said chamber of a second type, the boundary of said second chamber of a first type defined by a third elastic tube sealed to said top and said bottom.
14. The system of claim 13, said first and second chambers of a first type being in fluid communication with each other.
15. The system of claim 10 in which said cohesion-less particles comprise man-made material.
16. The system of claim 10 in which said cohesion-less particles comprise dry sand.
17. The system of claim 10 in which said top comprises a cylinder of height much less than diameter, said cylinder incorporating passages for transferring said cohesion-less particles.
18. The system of claim 17 said cylinder being rigid.
19. The system of claim 10 in which said bottom comprises a cylinder of height much less than diameter, said cylinder incorporating passages for transferring said cohesion-less particles.
20. The system of claim 19 said cylinder being rigid.
21. A method for rapidly deploying a structural support, comprising:
providing a structural element comprising:
at least one first component comprising:
a top;
a bottom;
at least one elastic tube of a first type sealed to said top and said bottom; and
at least one valve in operable communication with said tube of a first type to permit pressurization thereof;
a elastic tube of a second type sealed to said top and said bottom and incorporating at least one opening for filling and co-extensive with, and adjacent to, said at least one tube of a first type, said tube of a second type establishing at least one chamber of a first type between said at least one first component and said elastic tube of a second type and establishing a chamber of a second type, the external dimensions of which chamber of a second type are defined by the internal perimeter of said tube of a second type and said top and said bottom;
at least one port for access to said tube of a second type;
cohesion-less particles;
at least one source for pressurizing said at least one elastic tube of a first type; and
at least one source for providing said cohesion-less particles to said chamber of a second type;
positioning said structural element where support to a structure is required;
providing a compressor;
providing a source of cohesion-less particles;
providing a transfer mechanism for transferring said cohesion-less particles;
pressurizing said at least one chamber of a first type to extend said structural element to contact said structure requiring support; and
transferring said cohesion-less particles to said chamber of a second type,
wherein said structural element becomes a rigid mass capable of supporting said structure at the point of contact with said structure.
22. The method of claim 21 further comprising reversing said method to transfer said cohesion-less particles back to said source and to deflate said tubes of a first type upon not requiring the employment of said structural element for support of said structure.