The disclosed apparatus, systems and methods relate to an anterior mitral valve leaflet laceration catheter. The catheter has a plurality of lumens so as to allow for the introduction of the device via a guide wire, the inflation of a balloon and the manipulation of an introducer having a curved distal end cutting portion that can be rotated into a charged position for the laceration of the anterior mitral valve leaflet.

An example medical system includes a medical device configured to join the edges of the leaflets together, an elongate body configured to be navigated through vasculature to a heart valve of patient, and a plurality of tissue engagement devices extending from a distal end of the elongate body, each tissue engagement device comprising at least one clamp configured to capture leaflets of the heart valve.

A heart valve prosthesis is provided that includes a first member and a second member. The first member comprises a first central portion to be disposed adjacent to a line of coaptation on a first side of two adjacent heart leaflets and peripheral portions to be placed into direct contact with the two adjacent heart leaflets. The second member is separate from or can be separable from the first member, for example during delivery. The second member has a central portion and peripheral portions configured to be placed into direct contact with a second side of the two adjacent heart leaflets.

The invention provides a clamping instrument and a clamping assembly, which mainly comprises a positioning base, a moving base, at least two clamping arms connected with the moving base, at least two linkage arms respectively connected with each of the clamping arms and the positioning base, and an actuating rod respectively penetrating through the positioning base and the moving base, wherein the positioning base is rotated circumferentially and fixed axially relative to the actuating rod, and the moving base is rotated circumferentially and moves axially relative to the actuating rod; when the movable rod is rotated circumferentially, a distance between the moving base and the positioning base can be changed, and then each of the clamping arms is linked to be rotated around the moving base to be in an unfolded position or a clamped position so as to clamp a preset site of a human tissue. Thus, the rotating amplitude of the clamping arms can be finely adjusted to provide a clamping force with high precision in the present invention.

In one embodiment, a suture attachment catheter configured to repair a heart valve by inserting a suture in a valve leaflet of a beating heart of a patient includes a handle control, a flexible catheter body, and a suture attachment assembly at a distal end of the catheter body. The suture attachment assembly can include a rail between a distal clamping jaw hingedly attached to the rail, and a proximal clamping jaw. One of the proximal clamping jaw or distal clamping jaw can be selectively slideable with respect to the other on the rail using a jaw actuator of the control handle to adjust a distance between the proximal clamping jaw and the distal clamping jaw. A needle can be selectively slideable within the catheter body by using a needle actuator of the proximal handle control to penetrate a valve leaflet and insert a suture through the valve leaflet when the valve leaflet is captured between the proximal clamping jaw and the distal clamping jaw.

Devices and methods divert blood flow from a first vessel to a second vessel and maintain blood flow in the first vessel. The device includes a first segment and a second segment. The first segment is configured to anchor in the first vessel. The first segment includes a window to allow blood to flow into the first segment, through the window, and distal in the first vessel. The second segment is configured to anchor in the second vessel. The second segment is configured to allow blood to flow into the first segment, through the second segment, and into the second vessel.

The invention is a device, system, and method for repairing heart valve function, which may include bisecting native valve leaflets for improved deployment of a prosthetic heart valve in the native valve annulus. The invention may include a catheter having a cutting element shaft with a cutting element configured to puncture a valve leaflet and/or make a controlled cut through the leaflet. The device may have an extendable foot configured to be positioned on an opposite side of the valve leaflet from the cutting element shaft. The device may include magnets to guide the cutting element and/or cutting element shaft in proper alignment with the extendable foot and to hold the elements in place during leaflet bisection.

The present disclosure provides a heart valve repair method, comprising: advancing a distal end of a suture implanting apparatus from an outside of a body through a transapical approach into a left ventricle or a right ventricle of a heart; holding each leaflet of a heart valve with the distal end of the suture implanting apparatus; implanting at least one suture into the leaflet; withdrawing the suture implanting apparatus from the body; advancing a distal end of a suture locking apparatus from the outside of a body through a transapical approach into the corresponding left ventricle or the corresponding right ventricle; using the suture locking apparatus to lock the plurality of sutures; and withdrawing the suture locking apparatus from the body. The heart valve repair method has a simple surgical procedure, a low degree of patient trauma, and a high success rate of surgery.

Balloon catheters, sleeves, cages, and endoluminal prostheses are provided with stress-applying and spacing features coupled to expandable surfaces thereof. The stress-applying features may have blunt and/or rounded contact regions which contact tissue or calcified regions in the vasculature. The contact regions dent or fracture occlusive material on the wall of a vascular lumen and/or patient valve leaflets when expanded. The spacing features permit blood, drug, and contrast perfusion past structures expanded in the vasculature, particularly balloon catheters.

An exemplary valve repair device for repairing a native valve of a patient includes a coaption element, a pair of paddles, and barb portions. The barb portions extend directly from at least one of the coaption element and the pair of paddles.