An articulated prosthesis, left in the patient's heart for repairing a tricuspid or mitral valve, is conceived so as to grip simultaneously all the three leaflets of the tricuspid valve, or the two of the mitral valve, so as to make them lay distended fully in the valve plane and assume a final configuration as in the common surgical procedure. It is also disclosed a related catching device and a device for repairing a tricuspid or mitral valve.

A constricting cord can be delivered to the vicinity of an annulus using an apparatus that includes a set of support arms, with a respective anchor launcher supported by each of the support arms. An inflatable first balloon is configured to push the support arms away from each other when the first balloon is inflated. An inflatable second balloon is mounted to a shaft and is configured for inflation when the second balloon is disposed distally beyond the first balloon. In some embodiments, the distal balloon is inflated while it is in a ventricle. In some embodiments, the distal balloon is inflated while it is in a pulmonary artery.

A medical device used for implanting in a body includes a main body, a container included in the main body, and an insulating soft portion that closes an opening of the container. An electrically conductive first conductive portion is disposed on a bottom of the container, and an electrically conductive second conductive portion disposed on the main body. The first conductive portion and the second conductive portion are electrically connected to each other.

The invention relates to a knit having barbs protruding outwards from both faces obtained by knitting yarns of biocompatible material in guide-bars B2, B3 and B4 of a knitting machine, wherein the knitting patterns followed by guide-bars B2 and B3 involve at least two needles and produce an arrangement of yarns defining two faces of the knit, the knitting pattern followed by guide-bar B4 making stitches generating loops protruding outwards from each of the faces of the knit, guide-bar B4 being threaded with a hot-melt monofilament yarn, heat-setting the knit, forming barbs by cutting the loops via melting.

The present embodiments provide a medical device for implantation in a patient comprising a stent and a valve. The stent comprises a proximal region comprising a cylindrical shape having a first outer diameter in an expanded state, and a distal region comprising a cylindrical shape having a second outer diameter in the expanded state. The second outer diameter is greater than the first outer diameter. A proximal region of the valve is at least partially positioned within the proximal region of the stent, and the distal region of the valve is at least partially positioned within one of tapered and distal regions of the stent. When implanted, the proximal region of the stent and the proximal region of the valve are aligned with a native valve, and the distal region of the valve is distally spaced-apart from the native valve.

Dislodgment of a constricting cord from an annulus can be prevented by delivering the distal loop portion of the constricting cord to the annulus using a percutaneous delivery tool, and launching anchors into the annulus so as to affix the distal loop portion of the constricting cord to the annulus. The percutaneous delivery tool is withdrawn in a proximal direction after the anchors have been launched. A pushing member is pressed in a distal direction so that the pushing member holds a portion of the constricting cord against the annulus with enough pressure to prevent dislodgment of any of the anchors during the withdrawal of the percutaneous delivery tool.

A removable blood clot filter includes a number of locator members and anchor members disposed radially and extending angularly downward from a hub. The locator members include a number of linear portions having distinct axes configured to place a tip portion approximately parallel to the walls of a blood vessel when implanted to apply sufficient force to the vessel walls to position the filter near the vessel centerline. The anchor members each include a hook configured to penetrate the vessel wall to prevent longitudinal movement due to blood flow. The hooks may have a cross section sized to allow for a larger radius of curvature under strain so that the filter can be removed without damaging the vessel wall.

A system for bridging a gap between an article or a portion thereof and a target, and anchoring the article or its portion to the target, the system comprising a) an elongated delivery catheter having a distal end; b) and a bridging and anchoring construction, operable to selectably translate in a distal and a proximal direction relative to the distal end of the elongated delivery catheter, the bridging and anchoring construction slidably coupled to the elongated delivery catheter, wherein the bridging and anchoring construction is operable to 1) engage the target following the distal translation spanning the gap between the article or its portion and the target; 2) eliminating the gap following the proximal translation; and 3) anchoring the article or its portion to the target.

Apparatus and methods are described herein for a secondary valve apparatus that can be deployed within an existing implanted prosthetic heart valve. In some embodiments, a secondary prosthetic heart valve apparatus is implanted in series with an existing deteriorating implanted prosthetic valve. The secondary valve apparatus can restore proper valve function without disruption to the failing previously implanted valve. In some embodiments, the secondary valve apparatus can be positioned on an atrial portion of the existing valve, and be delivered transseptally. In other embodiments, the secondary valve apparatus can be positioned at a ventricular portion of the existing valve and delivered transapically. Devices and methods to prepare the existing valve to receive a secondary valve apparatus are also described herein. In some embodiments, a balloon expansion device can be used to expand an inner diameter of the existing valve to provide space for the secondary valve to be disposed.

Some embodiments are directed to methods and systems for percutaneously treating dissections in a patient's vasculature, such as, without limitation, the aorta. The method can include deploying a catheter containing a collapsed anchoring element, frame, and cover through a first vessel to an entry point of the dissection. The anchoring element can be secured to the second branch vessel. The frame can be expanded in the first branch vessel. The cover can be unfolded over at least a portion of the entry point. The cover then reduces blood flow into the entry point.