The invention relates to a device (12) for treating a body tissue presenting a prolapse. The device comprises: at least two arms (14, 16), each arm having a distal end (40) for gripping the tissue, a proximal maneuvering end (42) opposite the distal gripping end, and an elongate portion (44) comprised between the distal gripping end and the proximal maneuvering end, each elongate portion extending along a main direction (X).

Furthermore, each arm is rotatable between an angular catching position (a1, a2) and an angular clamping position (e1, e2) around a rotation axis (A1, A2) substantially parallel to the main direction, and the device comprises a guide member (25) able to limit the transverse movement of the arms relative to one another along a direction perpendicular to the main direction.

Synthetic chord devices and methods for using the same for connecting tissues are provided. Aspects of the synthetic chord devices include a first flexible connector having first and second ends. Located at the first end is an attachment element that includes a tissue piercing member coupled to a securing member. The securing member includes an elongated shape memory coil that is present in a removable sheath configured to maintain elongation of the shape memory coil. A reinforcing element is located at the second end. The devices and methods of the invention find use in a variety of applications, such as cardiac valve, e.g., mitral valve, repair.

A method is provided for reducing tricuspid valve regurgitation of a patient. The method includes implanting a first tissue anchor at a first implantation site in cardiac tissue in the vicinity of the tricuspid valve of the patient, and implanting a second tissue anchor at a second implantation site in cardiac tissue of the patient opposite the first implantation site across the tricuspid valve. Using a spool that winds therewithin at least a portion of a longitudinal member that couples the first and the second tissue anchors together, tension is applied between the first and the second tissue anchors to alter the geometry of the tricuspid valve by rotating the spool.

In one embodiment, a method of repairing a heart valve accesses an interior of a patient's beating heart minimally invasively and inserts one or more sutures into each of a plurality of heart valve leaflets with a suturing instrument. The suture ends of the sutures are divided into suture pairs, with each pair including one suture end from a suture inserted into a first valve leaflet and one suture end from a suture inserted into a second valve leaflet. One or more tourniquet tubes is advanced over the suture pairs to the leaflets to draw the sutures together to coapt the leaflets and then the sutures are secured in that position.

Delivery systems, methods and associated devices to facilitate delivery and deployment of a heart implant. Such delivery systems and methods of delivery include use of a pair of magnetic catheters, including an anchor delivery catheter carrying an anchor, which can be stacked with or can be axially offset from the magnetic head. Such systems further include use of a puncturing guidewire advanceable through the magnetic head of the anchor delivery catheter to establish access to a chamber of a heart and which is attached to a bridging element such that continued advancement of the guidewire draws a bridging element attached to the first anchor across the chamber of the heart while the bridging element remains covered by the magnetically coupled catheters. Methods and devices herein also allow for cutting and removal of a bridge element of a deployed heart implant.

A heart valve repair system includes an implantable device and a connector. The implantable device is configured to attach to at least two leaflets of a native heart valve of a patient and hold the at least two leaflets in a relatively fixed position. The connector is separate from the implantable device and includes first and second tissue anchors. The connector is configured to be attached to the at least two leaflets of the native valve when the at least two leaflets are held by the implantable device in the relatively fixed position. The implantable device is configured to be detached from the at least two leaflets and removed from the patient with the connector remaining attached to the at least two leaflets.

An apparatus for performing a medical procedure and, in particular, an aortic valvuloplasty, in a vessel for transmitting a flow of fluid. The apparatus comprises a shaft, an inflatable perfusion balloon supported by the shaft and including an internal passage for permitting the fluid flow in the vessel while the perfusion balloon is in an inflated condition, and a valve for controlling the fluid flow within the passage. The valve may be connected to the shaft, or may comprise an elongated tube partially connected to the balloon. The balloon may comprise a plurality of cells in a single cross-section, each cell including a neck, and the valve may be positioned in a space between the shaft and the necks for controlling the fluid flow within the passage. A connector may also be provided to control the position of the valve.

A system and method of repairing a native chordae of a patient using an artificial chordae. The artificial chordae is inserted into the patient in a non-deployed configuration using a delivery system and is delivered to a desired position within the patient. An operator causes the artificial chordae to transition from the non-deployed configuration to a deployed configuration. The artificial chordae is anchored to a myocardium of the patient. The artificial chordae is attached to a leaflet of the native chordae at an attachment location and tuned to a desired tension.

A balloon valvuloplasty catheter may include an elongate shaft having a guidewire lumen and a device lumen extending longitudinally therein, an expandable balloon secured to a distal portion of the elongate shaft, and an intravascular ultrasound catheter slidably disposed within the device lumen. The device lumen is in fluid communication with an interior of the expandable balloon. A method of preparing a native aortic heart valve of a patient's heart for transcatheter aortic valve replacement may include using the balloon valvuloplasty to observe via intravascular ultrasound and evaluate a position of the native leaflets relative to the left and right coronary artery ostia to determine if the native leaflets block the left coronary artery ostium and/or the right coronary artery ostium when the expandable balloon is inflated.

A valve repair device for repairing a native heart valve of a patient includes a pair of clasps, where each clasp is configured to attach to native valve leaflet. The ends of the pair of clasps can move away from one another to a partially open position when the native valve leaflets open during a diastolic phase of a cardiac cycle, and the ends of the pair of clasps can move toward one another when the native valve leaflets close during a systolic phase of a cardiac cycle.