This application relates to methods, systems, and apparatus for replacing native heart valves with prosthetic heart valves and treating valvular insufficiency. In some implementations, a heart valve leaflet clipping mechanism includes a delivery apparatus and clipping arms. The clipping arms are coupled to the delivery apparatus. The clipping arms are movable between an open position and a closed position. The two clipping arms are biased to the closed position. The delivery apparatus is configured to hold the clipping arms in the open position. The delivery apparatus is configured to allow the clipping arms to move to the closed position to engage native heart valve leaflet tissue.

An annuloplasty device is disclosed comprising first and second support rings having a coiled configuration, and respective first and second retention units, the first support ring transitions to the second support ring over a transition section, the transition section is adapted to be arranged at a commissure of the heart valve leaflets, the first and second support rings extend in respective first and second coil planes being essentially perpendicular to the central axis, the transition section bends at least partly along the central axis so that the first coil plane is separated a distance from the second coil plane along the central axis at the transition section.

A heart valve prosthesis for replacing a diseased native valve in a patient, the valve includes an expandable frame structure and an anchor. The anchor comprises a free end and has a flat spiral shape. The anchor comprises a housing, a lumen disposed within the housing, and a plurality of spiral bands translatably disposed within the housing. The valve may further include a valve segment mounted within the frame structure and expanded with the frame structure. The frame structure may be configured for receiving a valve segment.

An apparatus for suturing includes an inner strut, a spiral suturing needle, a driving mechanism, a recovery mechanism, a suture-taking-up mechanism, and a suture-feeding mechanism. Grooves are distributed on periphery with respect to an axial direction of the inner strut, a path of the groove is consistent with a path of a metallic stent to be sutured, and a width of the groove matches an outer diameter of the spiral suturing needle; the spiral suturing needle is an elastic retractable structure and a length of the spiral suturing needle without deformation is longer than a length of the path of the groove, and a suturing needle tip is arranged on a head portion of the spiral suturing needle and a suture-piercing hole is arranged on a tail portion of the spiral suturing needle.

Delivery systems for expandable elements, such as stents or scaffolds having spikes, flails, or other protruding features for penetrating target tissue and/or delivering drugs within a human patient are described along with associated methods for using such systems. The delivery systems can be provided with a stent that is positioned over an inflatable balloon for expansion and delivery of the stent to a target delivery location. By positioning the stent over and about the inflatable balloon, the stent is ready to be expanded by the balloon immediately upon unsheathing with respect to the outer shaft. Additionally or alternatively, a stent can be positioned in an axially offset arrangement with respect to a balloon to reduce the need for space required by overlapping components.

Embodiments of the present disclosure provide a removable embolic protection device for deployment at a body vessel, as well as systems and methods for implanting the device within a vessel of a patient.

A stent includes a cylindrical main body portion, a linkage portion, and a marker attachment portion. The main body portion extends in an axial direction. The linkage portion extends from an end of the main body portion in the axial direction. The marker attachment portion is linked to the main body portion through the linkage portion. The linkage portion includes a bent portion tilting the marker attachment portion outward in a radial direction of the main body portion.

A medical device including a mesh prosthesis having a first layer having an opening a second layer secured to the first layer and forming a pocket therebetween. A deployment device is positioned in the pocket and arranged to resiliently exert a deployment force on the mesh prosthesis to urge the mesh prosthesis into a deployment shape. The deployment device has a first shape when deployed that has at least one dimension larger than that of the opening to frustrate removal of the deployment device therethrough. Upon application of a suitable pulling force the deployment device is reconfigurable into a second shape that permits the deployment device to be removed from the pocket through the opening upon application of the suitable pulling force. A method of using a medical device is also included.

Features for a heart valve device are described. The device may include a frame with anchors configured to secure the device to tissue. The frame may include a flared end or skirt for additional securement of the implanted device. The device may include a seal such as a barrier and/or cuff for preventing leakage. The device may contract for endovascular delivery of the device to the heart and expand for securement within the heart, such as the within the native mitral valve annulus. The device may include a replacement valve. The valve may have leaflets configured to re-direct blood flow along a primary flow axis.

An earpiece body with a convoluted acoustic horn and a hearing protection device that includes the earpiece body. The convoluted acoustic horn that is configured to receive airborne sound waves through a first, sound-receiving opening and to emit airborne sound waves through a second, sound-emitting opening, wherein the first, sound-receiving opening is larger in cross-sectional area than the second, sound-emitting opening.