DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0036] The various aspects of the invention to be discussed herein generally pertain to devices and methods for treating heart conditions, including, for example, dilatation, valve incompetencies, including mitral valve leakage, and other similar heart failure conditions. Each device of the present invention preferably operates passively in that, once placed in the heart, it does not require an active stimulus, either mechanical, electrical, or otherwise, to function. Implanting one or more of the devices of the present invention operates to assist in the apposition of heart valve leaflets to improve valve function. In addition, these devices may either be placed in conjunction with other devices that, or may themselves function to alter the shape or geometry of the heart, locally and/or globally, and thereby further increase the heart's efficiency. That is, the heart experiences an increased pumping efficiency through an alteration in its shape or geometry and concomitant reduction in stress on the heart walls, and through an improvement in valve function.

[0037] The inventive devices and related methods offer numerous advantages over the existing treatments for various heart conditions, including valve incompetencies. The devices are relatively easy to manufacture and use, and the surgical techniques and tools for implanting the devices of the present invention do not require the invasive procedures of current surgical techniques. For instance, the surgical technique does not require removing portions of the heart tissue, nor does it necessarily require opening the heart chamber or stopping the heart during operation. For these reasons, the surgical techniques for implanting the devices of the present invention also are less risky to the patient than other techniques. The less invasive nature of the surgical techniques and tools of the present invention may also allow for earlier intervention in patients with heart failure and/or valve incompetencies.

[0038] The disclosed inventive devices and related methods involve geometric reshaping of the heart and treating valve incompetencies. In certain aspects of the inventive devices and related methods, substantially the entire chamber geometry is altered to return the heart to a more normal state of stress. Models of this geometric reshaping, which includes a reduction in radius of curvature of the chamber walls, can be found in U.S. Pat. No. 5,961,440 incorporated above. Prior to reshaping the chamber geometry, the heart walls experience high stress due to a combination of both the relatively large increased diameter of the chamber and the thinning of the chamber wall. Filling pressures and systolic pressures are typically high as well, further increasing wall stress. Geometric reshaping according to the present invention reduces the stress in the walls of the heart chamber to increase the heart's pumping efficiency, as well as to stop further dilatation of the heart.

[0039] Although many of the methods and devices are discussed below in connection with their use in the left ventricle and for the mitral valve of the heart, these methods and devices may be used in other chambers and for other valves of the heart for similar purposes. One of ordinary skill in the art would understand that the use of the devices and methods described herein also could be employed in other chambers and for other valves of the heart. The left ventricle and the mitral valve have been selected for illustrative purposes because a large number of the disorders that the present invention treats occur in the left ventricle and in connection with the, mitral valve. Furthermore, the devices disclosed herein for improving valve function can be “stand-alone” devices, that is, they do not necessarily have to be used in conjunction with devices for changing the shape of a heart chamber or otherwise reducing heart wall stress. It also is contemplated that a device for improving valve function may be placed relative to the heart without altering the shape of the chamber, and only altering the shape of the valve itself.

[0040] Reference will now be made in detail to the present preferred embodiments of the invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Wherever possible, the same reference numbers will be used throughout the drawings to refer to the same or like parts.

[0041] A currently preferred orientation of transventricular splints for lessening myocardial muscular stresses is shown in FIG. 1 , which shows the short-axis left ventricular cross-section from an anterior perspective. Examples of particular transventricular splints that are especially suitable for this application include those shown and described in copending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/532,049 to Vidlund et al., filed Mar. 21, 2000, entitled “A Splint Assembly for Improving Cardiac Function in Hearts, and Method for Implanting the Splint Assembly,” and comunonly assigned to the assignee of the present invention. The complete discosure of that application is incorporated by reference herein. That application will be referred to as “the '049 application” in the remainder of this disclosure.

[0042] In the preferred orienation shown in FIG. 1 , three splints are placed in a coplanar fashion, along the long axis of the ventricle, bisecting the left ventricle LV of the heart 10 . FIG. 1 is a cross-section (short axis) view looking from the superior side of the heart. The superior-most splint 14 is placed at approximately the level of the heads of the papillary muscles PM and below the level of leaflet coaptation, and the additional two splints (not shown in FIG. 1 ) are placed inferiorly toward the apex. The preferred orientation shown in FIG. 1 both bisects the left ventricle LV and avoids key structures such as coronary vessels and the like. The splints according to this orientation also extend through the septum S near its edge and enter a small portion of the right ventricle RV.

[0043] Each splint includes a tension member 16 and an anchor assembly 18 at each end of the tension member 16 . Presently preferred embodiments of tension members 16 , anchor assemblies 18 , and their connection to one another are disclosed in the '049 application incorporated by reference above. As shown in FIG. 1 , tension member 16 extends through the the heart wall HW, across the left ventricle LV, and through the septum S and a portion of the right ventricle RV. Anchor assemblies 18 are placed adjacent the external surface of the heart wall HW.

[0044] As mentioned above, human implantations of splints, including in an orientation shown in FIG. 1 , may exacerbate any pre-existing mitral valve incompetency, including mitral valve regurgitation (MVR), or at the least, may not improve any pre-existing MVR. FIG. 2 a shows an orientation of splints 14 according to an embodiment of the present invention which may assist in both offloading myocardial wall stress and in aiding the apposition of valve leaflets. According to this orientation, each tension member 16 of splint 14 extends through the heart wall HW at a position approximately midway between the antero lateral papillary muscle PM and the posterio medial papillary muscle PM, extends transverse the left ventricle LV, and extends through the septum S at approximately its midpoint. A first anchor assembly 18 is placed external the heart 10 adjacent the heart wall HW and a second anchor assembly is placed inside the right ventricle RV adjacent septum S. FIG. 2 a shows the superior-most splint 14 of preferably three splints, with the other two splints placed inferiorly towards the apex. More or less than three splints may be used. The splints in this orientation are generally parallel to one another and substantially perpendicular to the long axis of the left ventricle.

[0045] The orientation of splints 14 shown in FIG. 2 a helps to “pull” both of the papillary muscles PM toward the center of the left ventricle LV and reposition those muscles closer to their normal physiological position relative to the mitral valve annulus during the complete cardiac cycle. During the course of heart failure dilation, the papillary muscles PM are moved laterally away from their normal position, which causes the chordae connected to both valve leaflets to become excessively taut. This in turn inhibits the leaflets from fully closing against each other. By bringing the papillary muscles PM closer to the center of the ventricle LV, the chordae are slackened enough to allow the leaflets to appose, thereby improving on mitral valve function. Additionally, although the splints 14 in this approach are preferably positioned at and below the level of the tops of the papillary muscles PM, the shape change deformation at the superior-most splint 14 would extend in a region further superior, and potentially include the annulus itself. To the extent that the annulus in the region of the posterior leaflet is deformed, this would further benefit the valve function by reducing the cross-sectional area of the annulus and positioning the posterior leaflet and its attachment zone closer to the anterior annulus. This, in turn, will cause the leaflets to more fully appose, minimizing MVR.

[0046] Various methods may be employed to implant the splints 14 in the orientaion shown in FIG. 2 a . One particularly advantageous method is an endovascular delivery technique shown and described in co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. ______, to Robert M. Vidlund et al., entitled “Endovascular Splinting Devices and Methods,” filed on the same day as this application and commonly assigned to the assignee of this application, the entire i disclosure of which is incorporated by reference herein. Splints 14 also may be positioned in the orientation shown in FIG. 2 a by other surgical techniques, such as those described in the '049 application incorporated by reference above. For example, to gain access to the ventricular septum S, a small incision can be placed within the right ventricular wall to allow for positioning tension member 16 and the anchor assembly 18 within the right ventricle RV. The methods of implantation shown and described in the applications referred to above may be used in connection with any of the embodiments shown and described herein.

[0047] FIG. 2 b shows another orientation of splints 14 according to an embodiment of the present invention which may assist in the offloading of myocardial wall stress and in the apposition of valve leaflets. According to this orientation, at least one splint 14 is angled with respect to the long axis of the left ventricle LV, in contrast to orienting the at least one splint 14 perpendicular to the axis of the left ventricle LV. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 2 b , the lower two splints 14 are angled relative to the ventricular axis and relative to the superior-most splint 14 , which is approximately perpendicular to the ventricular axis. In this example, all three splints 14 are coplanar, as is preferred for optimizing the ventricular shape change. While FIG. 2 b illustrates the ventricular splints having an anchor pad disposed on the septum, it is contemplated that the benefits of angling one or more splints relative to the long axis of the ventricle could be achieved at other cross-sectional orientations including, for example, the orientation shown in FIG. 1 , in which an anchor pad is located on an exterior wall of the heart as opposed to the septum wall.

[0048] Because the lower two splints 14 are positioned at an angle, they tend to “lift” one or both papillary muscles PM as they impart shape change to the left ventricle LV. By lifting the papillary muscle(s) PM, some slack may be provided to the chordae connected to the valve leaflets to permit improved apposition of the leaflets of mitral valve MV. It is contemplated that more or less splints than the lower two splints may be angled (other than perpendicularly) relative to the ventricular axis to achieve the benefits to MVR, and that each splint may have a different angle relative to that axis. For example, all three splints could be angled, or only one splint could be angled. The number of splints to be angled, and the degree of such angles, would be chosen to optimize the improvement in MVR and would depend on factors such as the particular anatomy of a heart. The splint positioning can be iteratively changed and the impact on MVR, and mitral valve function in general, can be monitored using appropriate “real-time” imaging techniques and equipment, such as, for example, ultrasound and other suitable mechanisms. The ventricular splints 14 shown in FIG. 2 b may be oriented in any suitable cross sectional position, including the positions shown in FIG. 1 or 2 a . The benefits to MVR of angularly positioning one or more of the ventricular splints 14 relative to the ventricular axis, as shown in FIG. 2 b , may be achieved independent of the particular cross sectional position of the splints 14 .

[0049] According to an embodiment of the present invention, a method of improving mitral valve function, while maintaining the positions and orientations of the ventricular splints shown in FIG. 1 , includes the use of an additional splint. This additional splint, referred to herein as a mitral valve splint or MV splint, preferably has the same construction as the other splints and may be implanted using the similar delivery techniques. The primary function of the MV splint is to impart a shape change to the mitral valve annulus, adjacent the left ventricular wall, as well as reposition the papillary muscles PM.

[0050] FIGS. 3 a and 3 b show an MV splint according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIGS. 3 a and 3 b show the three ventricular splints 14 in the positions and orientations shown and described in connection with FIG. 1 (the dashed lines in FIGS. 3 a , 3 b ) and show an exemplary orientation of an MV splint 20 . It should be noted that in FIGS. 3 a and 3 b the shape change to the left ventricle caused by the transventricular splints 14 is not illustrated. MV splint 20 is positioned superior to the papillary muscles PM and oriented primarily across the mitral valve MV and on or below the mitral valve annulus while avoiding key vascular structures. In this orientation, MV splint 20 is “out of plane” with the other ventricular splints 14 , as the overall function of MV splint 20 is to improve and optimize the mitral valve function. In the example shown in FIGS. 3 a and 3 b , the MV splint extends through the heart wall between the papillary muscles of the left ventricle LV, and extends transverse the left ventricle LV, through the septum S, through the right ventricle RV, and once again through the heart wall.

[0051] The MV splint 20 improves mitral valve function through a combination of effects. First, the shape of the annulus is directly altered, preferably during the entire cardiac cycle, thereby reducing the annular cross sectional area and bringing the posterior leaflet in closer apposition to the anterior leaflet. Second, the position and rotational configuration of the papillary muscles PM and surrounding areas of the left ventricle LV are further altered by the tightening of the MV splint 20 . This places the chordae in a more favorable state of tension, allowing the leaflets to more fully appose each other. Third, since the annulus of the valve is muscular and actively contracts during systole, changing the shape of the annulus will also reduce the radius of curvature of at least portions of the annulus, just as the shape change induced by the ventricular splints reduces the radius of at least significant portions of the ventricle. This shape change and radius reduction of the annulus causes off-loading of some of the wall stress on the annulus. This, in turn, assists the annulus's ability to contract to a smaller size, thereby facilitating full closure of the mitral valve MV during systole.

[0052] The position of the MV splint 20 shown in FIGS. 3 a and 3 b is exemplary. The ventricular splints 14 preferably are positioned prior to positioning MV splint 20 , through the use of, for example, both angiographic and ultrasonic visualization tools. This positioning technique, described in the '049 application incorporated above, achieves optimal positioning of splints 14 to bisect the left ventricle LV and avoid key anatomic structures. After positioning the ventricular splints 14 , a device such as the probe/marking device shown and described in the '049 application may be used to repeatedly probe and deform possible areas near the mitral valve to find the optimal position for the MV splint 20 ., By utilizing, for example, standard “real-time” ultrasonic imaging techniques, the direct impact of the probing on MVR can be assessed, and pre-existing MVR or MVR exacerbated by placement of the ventricular splints 14 can be corrected. Once the optimal position for an MV splint 20 is determined and marked, the MV splint 20 is implanted and positioned by any of the delivery techniques referred to above, including the endovascular delivery technique or the more direct surgical approaches. The use of the MV splint 20 allows for the optimal placement of the ventricular splints 14 , which reduce heart wall stress, independent from the optimal subsequent positioning of the MV splint 20 , which improves mitral valve function. During implantation, the splint can be adjusted (either in position or in tightness or both) to optimize improvement to valve function, as determined by observation of the valve using real-time imaging techniques.

[0053] It is anticipated that the optimal position of the MV splint 20 could be at virtually any orientation relative to the valve leaflets, depending on the heart failure and mitral valve regurgitation associated with the particular heart at issue. For example, in some hearts, the position shown and described in connection with FIGS. 3 a and 3 b may yield the most improvement of MVR, whereas in other hearts, alternative positions such as shown in FIG. 3 c may yield the most improved results. Note that in FIG. 3 c , the transventricular splint is shown positioned between the papillary muscles, which may be another preferred orientation for certain hearts. Alternative “A” places MV splint to cause shape change between the papillary muscles Alternative “B” for MV splint positioning would be in a line more parallel to the valve leaflet edges, as shown in FIG. 3 d . Other placements of the MV splint, as well as the position of the transventricular splints, relative to the heart also are contemplated and could be selected based on the condition of the heart and the mitral valve.

[0054] According to another embodiment of the present invention, an alternative anchor assembly for the ventricular splints 14 may be provided to aid in mitral valve function. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 4 a , the superior-most splint 14 includes an anchor assembly 28 configured for connection to the “free wall” end of that splint 14 , i.e., at the exterior wall of the left ventricle. Anchor assembly 28 includes a lower portion in the form of, for example, a lower pad portion 30 which contacts the external surface of the left ventricle wall somewhat below the level of the tension member 16 . In a preferred embodiment, the lower pad portion 30 resembles the shape, size, and construction of the anchor pads described in the '049 application incorporated above. Anchor assembly 28 further includes an upper portion in the form of, for example, an upper pad portion 34 which contacts a superior region of the left ventricle wall near the mitral valve annulus. Tension member 16 connects to a spanning structure 32 that, in one embodiment, is preferably integrally fabricated with the lower and upper pad portions 30 and 34 , and connects portions 30 and 34 . Suitable materials for anchor assembly may include, but are not limited to, those described in the '049 application. At least the lower and upper pad portions 30 and 34 preferably include a covering or a coating of a material, such as, for example, a woven polyester fabric, to encourage tissue in-growth. The spanning structure 32 also may be made of, or include a covering or coating made of, a material to encourage tissue in-growth

[0055] In the exemplary, preferred embodiment shown in FIG. 4 a , the lower pad portion 30 has a circular shape and the upper pad portion 34 has an oblong shape. The oblong shape of the upper pad portion 34 has the advantage of inducing relatively extensive shape change along the periphery of the valve annulus, preferably during the entire cardiac cycle. Therefore, in an embodiment, the length and shape of the upper pad portion may extend a significant distance around the valve annulus. For example, the upper pad portion 34 may extend from about 1 cm in length to about 10 cm in length, depending on the desired shape change of the valve annulus. The width of the upper pad portion 34 , however, is preferably relatively narrow, so as to concentrate its shape change impact to the region near the valve annulus.

[0056] The upper pad portion 34 may be positioned near, but below, the valve annulus. In other embodiments of the present invention, the upper pad portion may be positioned directly on the exterior surface of the annulus or somewhat above the annulus to contact the left atrium wall. The position of the upper pad portion preferably avoids direct compressive contact with important vascular structure near or on the exterior surface of the heart. Significant coronary vasculature often lies on or near the atrio-ventricular groove 36 , which corresponds with the posterior annular region of the mitral valve. For this reason, it may be desirable to position the upper pad portion onto the left atrial surface.

[0057] Anchor assembly 28 permits selection of a position that causes valve annulus shape change relatively independent from the positioning of the ventricular splints that cause ventricular shape change. The incorporation of an anchor assembly 28 is most suitable for instances where the desired shape change for the mitral valve is relatively co-planar with the main ventricular shape change splints. In addition, anchor assembly 28 provides for annulus shape change without the need for an additional MV splint, such as that shown in FIGS. 3 a and 3 b.

[0058] An alternative embodiment of a splint with a mitral valve anchor assembly according to the invention is illustrated in FIG. 4 b . In the embodiment of anchor assembly 28 , shown in FIG. 4 a , the tension member 16 was connected to the spanning structure 32 approximately in the middle of the spanning structure 3 , yielding a relatively stable structure that remains substantially parallel to the exterior surface of the heart. However, the embodiment of the anchor assembly 28 ′ shown in FIG. 4 b places the ventricular shape change caused by the lower pad portion 30 ′ below the end of the tension member 16 ′. The anchor assembly 28 ′ illustrated in FIG. 4 b is similar to the anchor assembly 28 of FIG. 4 a , except that the tension member 16 ′ is anchored within the lower pad portion 30 ′. In order to provide mechanical balance to the anchor assembly, and to give leverage to the upper pad portion 34 ′ such that it can properly alter the region of the valve annulus, a second spanning structure 33 is provided to mechanically connect the anchor assembly 28 ′ to an anchor pad 14 of the splint disposed below the superior-most splint. This second spanning structure 33 also may be integrally formed with the anchor assembly 28 ′ and, in turn, with the anchor pad 14 . Alternatively, the second spanning structure 33 can be a separate component connecting anchor assembly 28 ′ and anchor pad 14 ′ once they are positioned with respect to the heart. This could be done, for example, by mechanical fastening, such as with screws or the like.

[0059] A further alternative anchor assembly 28 ″ is shown in FIG. 4 c . This anchor assembly 28 ″ is similar to the anchor assembly 28 shown in FIG. 4 a , except that anchor assembly 28 ″ also includes one or more additional papillary pad portions 35 connected to lower pad portion 30 ″ at a location substantially opposite to spanning structure 32 ″ The papillary pad portion or portions 35 serve to provide one or more additional sites of deformation of the ventricular wall, preferably to further reposition one or both papillary muscles to aid in appoistion of the valve leaflets. The papillary pad portions 35 may be formed integrally with the anchor assembly 28 ″ or may be separate and connected thereto via suitable connection mechanisms.

[0060] In certain cases, the optimal orientation of shape change for improving the mitral valve function may be significantly offset from the position and orientation of transventricular splints 14 . It is therefore desirable to have an approach to cause mitral valve shape change at positions away from the transventricular splints 14 , and even more desirably, without the addition of another splint structure traversing the ventricle.

[0061] FIG. 5 a shows such an approach according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 5 a shows an accessory anchor pad structure 40 attached to a connection member, shown as a runner 42 . Runner 42 connects at its ends to both anchor pads 18 of preferably the superior-most splint assembly 14 . As an alternative, runner 42 may connect to one anchor pad 18 and extend between that anchor pad 18 and structure 40 . The accessory pad structure 40 is positioned at the location on the heart wall that yields the greatest improvement in MVR, as determined with repeated probing and deforming at the exterior of the heart proximate the mitral valve annulus, as described above in connection with positioning the MV splint 20 in FIGS. 3 a and 3 b.

[0062] Since runner 42 preferably connects to the two anchor pads 18 of the upper-most splint assembly 14 , runner 42 generally runs at approximately the same level on the heart wall as those anchor pads 18 . In one embodiment, accessory anchor pad structure 40 may be of the same shape and material as the anchor pads 18 . While this embodiment may result in significantly improved MVR in some instances, in another embodiment, accessory pad 40 may take a form, including shape and material, similar to the anchor assemblies 28 , 28 ′, 28 ″ shown in FIGS. 4 a - 4 c . This latter configuration permits positioning accessory pad 40 at a position higher than the level of the anchor pads 18 of the superior-most transventricular splint, resulting in even greater shape change to the mitral valve annulus. Also according to this latter configuration, the preferred construction of accessory pad 40 would include, in addition to characteristics of anchor assembly 28 , 28 ′, 28 ″, shown in FIGS. 4 a - 4 c , a connecting mechanism 41 which would allow for adjustable positioning and securing of the accessory pad 41 to runner 42 . For example, a locking screw 43 may be used to secure runner 42 to pad 41 . Other mechanisms suitable for securing the pad 41 to the runner 42 and permitting adjustment of the pad position along the runner are within the scope of the present invention. Runner 42 preferably includes a wire-like, or braid-like, structure which secures to each of the splint anchor pads 18 also through any suitable means, such as, for example, a locking screw mechanism 44 , a pinning connection for a braid-like runner, or the like.

[0063] FIG. 5 b shows an alternative embodiment for connecting an accessory anchor pad assembly 50 to a runner 52 and for connecting runner 52 to anchor pads 18 . Each end of runner 52 connects to a connection mechanism in the form of a cap 54 . Each cap 54 locks in place over a pad 18 . At least one of the caps 54 includes an adjustable locking mechanism for adjusting the length of the runner 52 between the caps 54 , and also thereby adjusting the position of the accessory pad 50 on the heart wall, and locking the runner 52 to cap 54 .

[0064] In one embodiment, runner 52 is a braid formed of a high strength polymer, such as that used in the tension members described in the '049 application incorporated above. A suitable connection mechanism includes the use of one or more pins 56 placed through the braided runner 52 and connected to cap 54 through a flange 58 , for example, situated on the cap 54 . This pinning connection mechanism may be similar to the connection used for the braided tension members and anchor pads shown and described in the '049 application. The same connection mechanism may be used to connect accessory pad 50 to braided runner 52 . In an alternative embodiment according to the present invention, the braided runner 52 may more directly connect to anchor pads 18 , without the use of caps 54 , by, for example, a pinning securement mechanism incorporated into the superior splint pads themselves. In another contemplated embodiment, the external anchor pad assembly 50 , including the runner 52 and anchor pads 18 , can be used without the transventricular splint to improve valve function by causing a shape change to the valve annulus without an overall shape change to the left ventricle.

[0065] As mentioned above, a mechanism that may exacerbate MVR is the relative rotation of the papillary muscles PM and the adjacent left ventricular wall as the transventricular splints 14 are tightened into position. This relative rotation results in slack in some chordae and tightening in other chordae, which may “pull” one valve leaflet (or portion of the leaflet) while “loosening” the other valve leaflet (or portion of the leaflet).

[0066] FIG. 6 shows an embodiment of a device according to the present invention that would alleviate this rotation phenomenon. FIG. 6 shows an accessory splint 70 connected to the superior-most ventricular splint 14 by a connecting bar 60 . Accessory splint 70 and connecting bar 60 preferably are placed at approximately the same level along the ventricular wall as splint 14 . Splint 14 preferably is positioned near to, and in this case medial to, the anterior papillary muscle PM. Accessory splint 70 then is positioned through the septum S, across the left ventricle LV, and through the ventricular free wall between the, papillary muscles PM, similar to MV splint 20 described in connection with FIGS. 3 a and 3 b but at about the same level as the superior splint 14 .

[0067] Connecting bar 60 attaches to the ends of tension members 16 and 72 at their left ventricular “free wall” ends. Both tension members 16 and 72 are tensioned, pressing connecting bar 60 into the left ventricle and effecting shape change to the ventricle and the mitral valve annulus. Connecting bar 60 prevents rotation of the left ventricle LV in the region of the anterior papillary muscle PM and causes uniform tensioning of the chordae associated with that papillary muscle PM and any associated ventricular wall. This is believed to lessen any degradation in MVR, and potentially improve the MVR, because the papillary muscles PM are brought to a more desired position, with less rotation, particularly as to the anterior papillary muscle.

[0068] The embodiments of the present invention described in connection with FIGS. 2 a to 6 have been described in connection with the use of transventricular splints used to geometrically reshape a chamber of the heart and thereby lessen heart wall stresses and reduce dilatation. While the devices and related methods described herein would further benefit the ventricular splinting procedure and its effects, the devices and related methods of the present invention may be used independent of the ventricular splinting to improve dilatation and instead be used for repairing heart valves, and particularly mitral valves, without the use of adjunctive ventricular splints. For example, a mitral valve splint such as that shown in FIGS. 3 a , 3 b , and 3 c could be utilized without additional ventricular shape change splints.

[0069] Moreover, while many of the embodiments of the present invention have been described in connection with modifications to transventricular splinting structures, the same or similar modifications may be made to external-type devices for causing ventricular shape change. Examples of such external devices are shown in co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/157,486 (“the '486 application”) filed Sep. 21, 1998 and entitled “External Stress Reduction Device and Method,” the complete disclosure of which is incorporated by reference herein. Modifying those external devices in a similar manner as with the transventricular splints will achieve beneficial impacts to the mitral valve function. For example, the accessory anchor pad shown in FIGS. 5 a and 5 b could be utilized in conjunction with an external stress reduction device, as shown, for example, in FIG. 7 . In FIG. 7 , an external splint 199 having a generally U-shaped configuration and including an anterior arm 199 a and a posterior arm 199 b , is positioned with respect to the left ventricle to create a substantially bi-lobed shape. In a preferred embodiment, the U-shaped external splint is made from a material that permits the splint to elastically deform under operational loads and also from a material that is biocompatible. Examples of preferred materials include e-PTFE, or a polyester such as Dacron, for example. Such a splint, as well as other suitable external splints, is described in more detail in the '486 application incorporated above. As shown in FIG. 7, a runner 298 , similar to the runner described with reference to FIGS. 5 a and 5 b , attaches at its ends to the arms 199 a , 199 b . An accessory anchor pad 299 , also similar to the accessory anchor assembly discussed with reference to FIGS. 5 a and 5 b , attaches to the connecting runner 298 . The runner 298 and accesory anchor pad 299 are positioned with respect to the heart so as to alter the shape of the mitral valve annuls to assist in coaptation of the valve leaflets. Alternatively, the runner and accessory anchor pad could be positioned so as to provide a repositioning of the papillary muscles, also to assist in coaptation of the valve leaflets.

[0070] It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made in the devices and related methods for improving mitral valve function of the present invention and in construction of such devices without departing from the scope or spirit of the invention. As an example, a combination of devices depicted above may be used for achieving improved mitral valve function. In one such combination, an accessory splint such as MV splint 20 shown in FIGS. 3 a and 3 b may include an anchor assembly 28 as shown in FIG. 4 and/or an accesory anchor pad structure 40 or 50 shown in FIGS. 5 a and 5 b . Other embodiments of the invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art from consideration of the specification and practice of the invention disclosed herein. The specification and examples are exemplary only, with a true scope and spirit of the invention being indicated by the following claims.