Embodiments of systems and methods for fixing soft tissue are disclosed herein. In some embodiments, soft tissue may be fixed to an attachment surface (such as bone, other soft tissue, other implants, or allograft or xenograft materials) by providing a helical suture in the soft tissue, wherein the soft tissue has a longitudinal axis along which the soft tissue undergoes tension under normal physiological conditions, and wherein a longitudinal axis of the helical suture in the soft tissue is oriented parallel to the longitudinal axis of the soft tissue; and securing the helical suture to an attachment surface.

A system using a guide to assist in insertion of a helicoidal member in a target biological tissue. The system adheres to tissues using suction to allow insertion of the helicoidal member.

Suture clips configured to be placed in a predetermined path of a suturing needle that advances through a device inserted to a body cavity, and remotely operated from that position to secure and clamp suturing. In some embodiments, a suture tightening device is placed in the predetermined path and configured to capture the suture and shorten a length of tissue-engaged suture by pulling on the suture. In some embodiments, sensors are placed along the needle path and used to provide an indication of needle position and/or status.

A method for treating a heart valve involves delivering a catheter into a ventricle of a heart, advancing a coil from the catheter, rotating the coil at least partially around a papillary muscle of the ventricle, embedding a distal end of the coil in tissue of the ventricle, and manipulating a suture coupled to the coil to adjust a position of the papillary muscle.

A system using a guide to assist in insertion of a helicoidal member in a target biological tissue. The system adheres to tissues using suction to allow insertion of the helicoidal member.

A method for treating a heart valve involves introducing a delivery catheter into a target ventricle of a heart, the delivery catheter having a coil device disposed at least partially therein, deploying a distal end of the coil device from the delivery catheter, navigating the distal end of the coil device behind a plurality of trabeculae carneae features associated with an inner wall of the ventricle to form one or more coils, and tightening the one or more coils to reduce a diameter of the target ventricle.

A method for treating a heart valve involves delivering a catheter into a ventricle of a heart, advancing a coil from the catheter, rotating the coil at least partially around a papillary muscle of the ventricle, embedding a distal end of the coil in tissue of the ventricle, and manipulating a suture coupled to the coil to adjust a position of the papillary muscle.

Systems and methods for accessing, stabilizing and sealing a device attached to a tissue surface comprising a tissue attaching device having an outer base ring defining an opening therethrough and a distally projecting tissue attachment element. The systems variously utilize annular sealing flanges distally attached to the outer base ring outside or inside the tissue attachment element to create a fluid tight seal. The systems variously utilize coils with regions of differing pitch to create sealing tissue pressure. Methods for installing an apical attaching device with a transapical port into a patient, comprising assessing the patient's viability for installation of the apical attaching device by determining an Index of Tissue Elasticity (ITE).

Disclosed embodiments include apparatuses, systems, and methods for suturing a wound, incision, or other opening. In an illustrative embodiment, an apparatus includes a helically-shaped needle having a helical radius, the needle having a shaft and drawing a filament from a trailing end. Two generally-parallel rollers are configured to engage therebetween the shaft, the first roller having a roller radius that is less than the helical radius of the needle to enable the needle to revolve around the first roller to pierce a body adjacent the first roller and to draw the filament therethrough. A frame is configured to counter-rotatably support the rollers. The frame includes couplings configured to detachably receive distal ends of a support shaft and drive member extending from a drive mechanism, the drive member being configured to provide the rotational force to at least one of the rollers.

Disclosed embodiments include apparatuses, systems, and methods for suturing a wound, incision, or other opening. In an illustrative embodiment, an apparatus includes a roller mechanism configured to counter-rotatably support two generally-parallel rollers configured to engage therebetween a shaft of a helically-shaped needle, the needle having a point at a leading end, drawing a filament from a trailing end, and having a first helical radius, the needle being revolvable around a first roller having a roller radius that is less than a helical radius of the needle to enable the needle to pierce a body and draw a filament through a body disposed adjacent the first roller. A motor drive is operably coupled with roller mechanism to convey rotational force to rotate the two generally-parallel rollers. A controller is operably coupled with the motor drive and configured to cause the needle to complete at least one revolution to form a single suture in the body.