A sutureless implant for replacing damaged natural chordae tendineae of a human or possibly animal heart, the implant including a distal implant part, a proximal implant part, and an artificial chord. The distal implant part is configured to fit in a lumen of an implant delivery device and includes a self-spreading portion spreading radially outside when the distal implant part is released from the lumen, the self-spreading portion being capable of anchoring the distal implant part in human muscle tissue. The proximal implant part is configured to fit in the lumen of the implant delivery device and comprises a self-spreading portion spreading radially outside when the proximal implant part is released from the lumen, the self-spreading portion being capable of bearing on a tissue portion of leaflet tissue. The distal implant part and the proximal implant part are connected by the chord.

A tissue anchor comprises an anchoring portion, and a crown coupled thereto. The crown includes an anchor head fixedly coupled to the anchoring portion, a driver interface, and a socket. The socket may be fixedly coupled to the driver interface and shaped to receive the anchor head. In a first state the anchor head is seated snugly within the socket, such that torque applied to the driver interface is transferred to the anchoring portion, thereby facilitating screwing of the anchoring portion into the tissue. Screwing of the anchoring portion into the tissue can pull the anchor head distally out of the socket, thereby transitioning the anchor into a second state in which torque applied to the driver interface rotates the socket relative to the anchor head and the anchoring portion. Other embodiments are also described.

A drill bit for bone surface preparation and creation of a shallow pilot hole and a bone anchor. The drill bit includes a shaft extending to a distal end, the distal end having a drill tip, a sharp point extending distally from the drill tip, and a stop extending around the shaft at the drill tip, the stop having one or more cutting edges and a diameter that is greater than a diameter of the shaft. The bone anchor includes a body having at least two opposing openings forming a window extending through the body, an expansion member having a pair of connected and spaced wings, the expansion member extending at least partially into the window in the body, and a fixation mechanism comprising an adjustable loop, the adjustable loop extending between the pair of connected and spaced wings in the window of the body.

Apparatus and methods are described herein for anchoring a prosthetic heart valve. In some embodiments, an apparatus includes a tether attachment member that includes a base member that defines at least a portion of a tether passageway through which a portion of a tether extending from a prosthetic heart valve can be received therethrough. The base member defines a locking pin channel that intersects the tether passageway. A locking pin is disposable within the locking pin channel and movable between a first position in which the locking pin is at a spaced distance from the tether passageway, and a second position in which the locking pin intersects the tether passageway and can engage the portion of a tether disposed therein to secure the tether to the tether attachment member.

A device for forming a tissue fold includes a recess and an opening at the end of the recess. Tissue is drawn into the recess and through the opening using a tissue engaging element. As the tissue is drawn through the opening, the tissue layers are compressed together. A fastener is used to secure the tissue fold.

Embodiments of the invention include a tissue repair system and related components and associated methods that provide for suturing of tissue using three or more suture anchoring implants, including multiple pairs of connected implants in some embodiments, all of which may be deployed from a single device. Some embodiments achieve this by employing a push mechanism capable of being activated to advance the push mechanism incrementally to discrete positions within the device and deploy implants one at a time from the device.

Devices, systems, and methods to improve both the reliability of soft tissue repair procedures and the speed at which the procedures are completed are provided. The devices and systems include one or more tissue augmentation constructs, which include constructs that are configured to increase a footprint across which suture applied force to tissue when the suture is tied down onto the tissue. The tissue augmentation constructs can be quickly and easily associated with the repair suture, and can be useful in many different tissue repair procedures that are disclosed in the application. Tissue augmentation constructs can include various blocks and scaffolds, among other formations. The present disclosure includes, among other disclosures, methods for using tissue augmentation scaffolds, including folding scaffolds, and descriptions and methods associated with extra-wide tissue augmentation blocks.

An assembly for reshaping a cardiac ventricle in a patient comprising an implantable device for reshaping a ventricle comprising a tether, a non-implantable tool which is detachably connectable to said implantable device and has a proximal portion and a distal portion opposite to said proximal portion; the implantable device further comprises an active anchor adapted to be detachably connected to the distal portion of the tool; the active anchor comprises an abutment portion adapted to abut against a structure of the ventricle; the active anchor of the implantable device comprises an adjustment device adapted to adjust the tensional state of the tether; the distal portion of the tool comprises an adjustment key adapted to cooperate with the adjustment device of the active anchor; the proximal portion of the tool comprises a maneuvering interface which is operatively connectable to said adjustment key for adjusting the tensional state of the tether by acting on the maneuvering interface of the proximal portion of the tool.

Methods and tools for folding and/or capturing leaflets of a heart valve are disclosed herein. Prior to or during installing of a prosthetic heart valve, part of a leaflet of an existing valvular structure can be positioned distally and/or folded upon itself. The existing valvular structure may be a native heart valve or a previously-implanted prosthetic heart valve. When the existing valvular structure is at the aortic position, the prosthetic heart valve can be subsequently installed within the existing valvular structure such that the leaflet is maintained in a location that avoids obstructing blood flow to one or more of the coronary arteries.

Devices, systems, and methods to improve both the reliability of soft tissue repair procedures and the speed at which the procedures are completed are provided. The devices and systems include one or more structured tissue augmentation constructs, which include constructs that are configured to increase a footprint across which suture applied force to tissue when the suture is tied down onto the tissue. The tissue augmentation constructs can be quickly and easily associated with the repair suture and can be useful in many different tissue repair procedures that are disclosed in the application. The present disclosure includes structured tissue augmentation blocks for tendon repair that have a flexible or semi-flexible skeleton integrated into the block. The skeleton can be bioabsorbable and can create both in-plane and out-of-plane curvature in the block.