A system includes a transcatheterally-advanceable driver and an implant. The implant includes a winch, and a tether that has an end portion. The winch includes a spool, a mount, and a driver interface engageable and drivable by the driver. The mount is coupled to the driver interface such that driving of the driver interface by the driver rotates the mount about a rotation axis. The spool is coupled to the tether, and defines a spool axis that is non-coaxial with the rotation axis. The tether extends away from the winch toward the end portion. The spool is fixedly coupled to the mount such that rotation of the mount about the rotation axis draws the end portion of the tether toward the spool by winding the tether around the spool axis of the spool. Other embodiments are also described.

A tension-distribution device includes a rotationally-symmetric structure and two or more suture-engagement features associated with the rotationally-symmetric structure, the suture-engagement features being configured to receive one or more suture portions therein. The two or more suture-engagement features are evenly spaced rotationally about an axial center of the rotationally-symmetric structure.

The present disclosure relates to a device for meniscal repair for use in areas of a human body where tissue can either be surgically reattached to bone or surgically repaired when a tear forms in the tissue. The device may take one of three forms; in a first form, the device comprises a handle and a deployment member permitting the deployment of anchors or sutures to the tissue requiring repair; subsequently the device may take a second form comprising the handle, still in place, and a cutter member for manipulating and cutting anchors and sutures to assist in repair of the tissue; in its third form, the device comprises the handle, still in place, and a fluid injection member for applying a fluid to aid in improving biological conditions for the tissue to heal.

A button inserter includes a shaft having a fulcrum that extends beyond a distal tip of the shaft. An inner rod is within the shaft and has a button mating surface that extends from a distal tip of the inner rod. A handle includes a handle switch that translates the inner rod between an extended position where the button mating surface of the inner rod extends beyond the distal tip of the shaft and a retracted position where the button mating surface of the inner rod is located completely within the shaft.

An apparatus for preventing deployment failure or damage of a movable portion of a treatment device via a force limiting element in the treatment device.

A self-punching lateral row driver. The driver includes a handle assembly comprising a strike surface and retention cleat, a suture cleat, and a handle body. The handle body is rotatable relative to the suture cleat. The driver also includes a driver tube assembly extending from the suture cleat and an anchor assembly. The anchor assembly includes a proximal screw and a distal anchor with a self-punching tip. The anchor assembly is connected to the driver tube assembly. In a pre-deployment configuration, the screw and the anchor are spaced along the driver tube assembly and in a post-deployment configuration, the screw abuts or engages the anchor. The rotation of the handle with respect to the suture cleat moves the screw from the pre-deployment configuration to the post-deployment configuration.

A tissue-engaging element is advanced to a heart, while coupled to a guide member. The tissue-engaging element is then coupled to tissue of the heart. An elongate implant is subsequently slid distally along the guide member toward the tissue-engaging element, and the elongate implant is subsequently locked to the tissue-engaging element. Other embodiments are also described.

A valve prosthesis and methods for implanting the prosthesis are provided. The prosthesis generally includes a self-expanding frame and two or more engagement arms. A valve prosthesis is sutured to the self-expanding frame. Each engagement arm corresponds to a native mitral valve leaflet. At least one engagement arm immobilizes the native leaflets, and holds the native leaflets close to the main frame. The prosthetic mitral valve frame also includes two or more anchor attachment points. Each anchor attachment point is attached to one or more anchors that help attach the valve prosthesis to the heart.

An anchor is shaped to define a helix. A deployment tool is reversibly coupled to the anchor, and includes a lance. The deployment tool is configured to transluminally advance the anchor to the heart, and to stabilize the anchor at the tissue by driving the lance into the tissue. The deployment tool is also configured to anchor the anchor to the tissue, for example, by driving the tissue-penetrating helix into the tissue while the anchor remains stabilized at the tissue by the lance in the tissue, and to subsequently retract the lance from the tissue while leaving the anchor anchored to the tissue. Other embodiments are also described.

A catheter device includes a tube, and an extracorporeal unit coupled to a proximal end of the tube. An implant includes a series of anchors and a tether. The series of anchors includes a first anchor and other anchors, arranged along the extracorporeal unit. Each of the anchors includes a tissue-engaging element, and a head that defines an eyelet. The tether extends, along the extracorporeal unit, through the eyelet of each of the other anchors to the first anchor such that (i) the first anchor is advanceable, with a distal end of the tether, distally into and through the tube toward the tissue, and (ii) subsequently, the other anchors are slidable, sequentially, over and along the tether, distally into and through the tube toward the first anchor. Other applications are also described.