System for fixation of leaflets of a heart valve including a delivery catheter having an elongated shaft, a proximal end portion and a distal end portion configured to be positioned proximate native leaflets of a heart valve from a remote vascular access point, the delivery catheter further includes a rotatable actuator rod having a threaded fastener at a distal end thereof, and a fixation device releasably coupled by a threaded connection to the threaded fastener of the actuator rod. The fixation device includes a first arm moveable between a closed position and an open position, and a second arm moveable between a closed position and an open position. The fixation device further includes a first gripping element movable relative to the first arm in the open position, the first gripping element biased toward the first arm to capture a first leaflet of the heart valve therebetween and a second gripping element movable relative to the second arm in the open position, the second gripping element biased toward the second arm to capture a second leaflet of the heart valve therebetween. The first gripping element is biased toward the first arm, and the second gripping element is biased toward the second arm. The fixation device further includes a covering disposed on each of the first gripping element and the second gripping element.

System for fixation of leaflets of a heart valve including a delivery catheter having an elongated shaft, a proximal end portion and a distal end portion configured to be positioned proximate native leaflets of a heart valve from a remote vascular access point, the delivery catheter further includes a rotatable actuator rod having a threaded fastener at a distal end thereof, and a fixation device releasably coupled by a threaded connection to the threaded fastener of the actuator rod. The fixation device includes a first arm moveable between a closed position and an open position, a second arm moveable between a closed position and an open position. The fixation device further includes a first gripping element movable relative to the first arm in the open position, the first gripping element biased toward the first arm to capture a first leaflet of the heart valve therebetween, and a second gripping element movable relative to the second arm in the open position, the second gripping element biased toward the second arm to capture a second leaflet of the heart valve therebetween. The first gripping element and the second gripping element each includes a plurality of barbs extending therefrom, the plurality of barbs of each of the first gripping element and the second gripping element being aligned transversely in at least one row. The fixation device further includes a covering disposed on each of the first gripping element and the second gripping element, wherein the plurality of barbs of the first gripping element and the second gripping element, respectively, protrude through the covering.

System for fixation of leaflets of a heart valve including a delivery catheter having an elongated shaft, a proximal end portion and a distal end portion configured to be positioned proximate native leaflets of a heart valve from a remote vascular access point, and a fixation device releasably coupled to the delivery catheter. The fixation device includes a first arm moveable between a closed position and an open position, and a second arm moveable between a closed position and an open position. The fixation device further includes a first gripping element movable relative to the first arm in the open position, the first gripping element biased toward the first arm to capture a first leaflet of the heart valve therebetween, and a second gripping element movable relative to the second arm in the open position, the second gripping element biased toward the second arm to capture a second leaflet of the heart valve therebetween. The first gripping element and the second gripping element each include a plurality of barbs extending therefrom, the plurality of barbs of each of the first gripping element and the second gripping element being aligned transversely in at least one row. The fixation device further includes a covering disposed on each of the first gripping element and the second gripping element, wherein the plurality of barbs of the first gripping element and the second gripping element, respectively, protrude through the covering.

A closure device 100 that closes a wound on a skin includes a pair of sheet members 41a, 41b that have an axial direction da and a width direction db orthogonal to the axial direction da and face each other with a space 41s provided in the width direction db, and a plurality of closure elements 2a, 2b that are attached to the pair of sheet members 41a, 41b across the space 41s and arranged in the axial direction da. The closure element 2a, 2b respectively include bases 10a, 10b and adjusters 30a, 30b that are arranged on the pair of sheet members 41a, 41b to face each other across the space 41s, and drawstrings 20a, 20b that extend from the bases 10a, 10b and engage with the adjusters 30a, 30b. The pair of sheet members 41a, 41b include a plurality of slits 51, 52 provided in a plurality of areas, each of the plurality of areas being provided between pairs of the closure elements 2a, 2b adjacent to each other.

A hair grasping device having a handle with hollow fingers, a trigger slidably attached to the handle, a number of grips slidably attached within the hollow fingers connected to the trigger. Each of the grips has a first and a second arm, a central post, and an extended position and retracted position. When in the retracted position, the arms are forced against the central post by the hollow fingers, and when in the extended position, the arms are forced away from the central post, creating a clearance between the arms and the central post.

The methods, devices, and systems are provided for performing endovascular repair of atrioventricular and other cardiac valves in the heart. Regurgitation of an atrioventricular valve, particularly a mitral valve, can be repaired by modifying a tissue structure selected from the valve leaflets, the valve annulus, the valve chordae, and the papillary muscles. These structures may be modified by suturing, stapling, snaring, or shortening, using interventional tools which are introduced to a heart chamber. The tissue structures can be temporarily modified prior to permanent modification. For example, opposed valve leaflets may be temporarily grasped and held into position prior to permanent attachment. In one aspect, a structure is deployed in a gutter region of the valve annulus to modify the shape of the valve.

The invention provides devices, systems and methods for tissue approximation and repair at treatment sites. The devices, systems and methods of the invention will find use in a variety of therapeutic procedures, including endovascular, minimally-invasive, and open surgical procedures, and can be used in various anatomical regions, including the abdomen, thorax, cardiovascular system, heart, intestinal tract, stomach, urinary tract, bladder, lung, and other organs, vessels, and tissues. The invention is particularly useful in those procedures requiring minimally-invasive or endovascular access to remote tissue locations, where the instruments utilized must negotiate long, narrow, and tortuous pathways to the treatment site. In addition, many of the devices and systems of the invention are adapted to be reversible and removable from the patient at any point without interference with or trauma to internal tissues.

A system includes a clip, a member and a control member. The clip includes a barrel member defines a cavity therein and clip arms. Distal ends of the arms are connected to one another and slidably received within the cavity to be moved between open and closed configurations. The member includes a lumen extending longitudinally therethrough. A distal end of the member in contact with the distal ends of the arms to hold the arms distally against the barrel member. The control member is slidably received within the lumen so that a distal end of the control member extends distally past the distal end of the member and the distal ends of the arms to be connected to the distal end of the barrel member. A longitudinal movement of the control member relative to the longitudinal member moves the arms between the open and closed configurations.

A method for closing a fissure in a region of tissue having an inner surface and an outer surface, the method comprising: providing at least a pair of transverse anchor components, each transverse anchor component being coupled to at least one flexible longitudinal fixation component having a longitudinal axis; placing the transverse anchor components relative to the inner surface of the tissue on both sides of the fissure such that an exposed end of a flexible longitudinal fixation component extends through the tissue and past the outer surface of the tissue on both sides of the fissure; applying axial tension to the exposed ends; and anchoring the exposed ends.

In a device for stretching the skin, particularly for closing a wound, anchoring elements are anchored in the skin. The anchoring elements are movable on a guide device. First anchoring elements are anchored in the skin of the edge of the wound. Second anchoring elements are adjustable on the guide device in the stretching direction behind the first anchoring elements in relation to and independently of said first anchoring elements.