The invention relates to a device for use in the transcatheter treatment of mitral valve regurgitation, specifically a coaptation assistance element for implantation across the valve; a system including the coaptation assistance element and anchors for implantation; a system including the coaptation assistance element and delivery catheter; and a method for transcatheter implantation of a coaptation element across a heart valve.

A method of attaching a surgical suture inside of a pelvis includes moving an anchor deployment component relative to the anchor delivery component, pushing an anchor out of the anchor delivery component and into tissue inside of the pelvis, and engaging anchor with the tissue inside of the pelvis.

According to one embodiment, a protective device for use in congestive heart failure treatments, and other treatments, includes a control mechanism, an elongate shaft, and a protective plate. The control mechanism is coupled with a proximal end of the elongate shaft and the protective plate is pivotably coupled with a distal end of the elongate shaft. The elongate shaft enables the protective plate to be inserted within a body and navigated distally of a heart wall. The protective plate has a relatively wide and thin body portion and is pivotable relative to the elongate shaft by operation of the control mechanism. Pivoting and/or navigating of the protective plate within the body allows the protective plate to be positioned adjacent the heart wall to shield body organs or tissue surrounding the heart wall from being damaged by surgical instruments inserted through the heart wall.

Methods and devices for the treatment of cardiac valve dysfunction through the placement of lines and anchors. The lines and anchors can form artificial chordae between valve leaflets and the ventricular wall or papillary muscles or connect the two valve leaflets together. The methods and devices offer a mechanism for performing this technique with the heart still beating, and allows for the placement of multiple lines with a single device.

A kit for assembling an incision closing trocar comprising a cannula having a lumen, a proximal side, and a distal side is provided, the kit comprises an obturator comprising: a shaft having a distal end and a proximal end; at least two anchor recesses are provided near the distal end of the shaft, wherein each anchor recess retains a corresponding anchor; a handle provided at the proximal end of the obturator, is configured to actuate at least two pushers so as to push the corresponding anchors from the anchor recesses; and at least two holders, removably attached to the distal end of the obturator wherein each of the at least two holders holds a coiled or folded suture having a length and one end, wherein the one end of the suture is attached to the corresponding anchor, wherein the length of the suture can be pulled from the holders by removing and pulling away the holder from the obturator, wherein the obturator is sized to be inserted into the lumen of the cannula from the proximal side, together with the at least two holders so that the holders are exposed beyond the distal side when the obturator is fully inserted in the cannula, and then the holders can be removed from the obturator such that the sutures are outside the cannula.

A knotless instability anchor having an anchor having a first side and a second side with a suture material passing therethrough from the first side to the second side. The suture material has an adjustable loop extending from the first side of the anchor and a first limb and a second limb extending from the second side of the anchor. A splice is formed in the first limb between a first end of the first limb and the anchor. A self-collapsing loop is formed in the first limb between the first end and the splice. The second limb extends through the splice in the first limb.

A prosthetic cardiac valve assembly and method of implanting the same is disclosed. In certain disclosed embodiments, the prosthetic valve assembly is an annuloplasty ring with an attached artificial valve. The prosthetic valve assembly can be secured to native heart tissue by suturing or other suitable method of the annuloplasty ring to the native heart tissue. The prosthetic valve leaflets of the prosthetic valve can also be anchored to the native heart tissue to prevent prolapse. In certain embodiments, the prosthetic valve leaflets are anchored to the native papillary muscles. In still other embodiments, the prosthetic valve assembly contains exactly the number of prosthetic valve leaflets as are in the native valve that the prosthetic valve assembly is configured to replace. With the prosthetic valve assembly properly positioned, it will replace the function of the native valve.

A medical device for joining materials is provided. The device comprises a piercing element configured to penetrate materials to be joined. The piercing element is sufficiently sharp to penetrate materials to be joined and comprises a hollow interior along at least a portion of its length configured to distal advancement of a fastener therethrough; and an open tip through which the fastener can be pushed. The device can be used for fastening materials including tissue, synthetic mesh, and biologic mesh (e.g., ADM).

A transluminal sheath is advanced transseptally into a left atrium of the subject. A distal end of a surrounding-sheath, having an anchor disposed therein, is advanced via a distal end of the transluminal sheath, into a left ventricle of the subject via a commissure of the mitral valve. While the distal end of the surrounding-sheath is in the left ventricle, the surrounding-sheath is pulled proximally with respect to the anchor to expose the anchor. While the distal end of the surrounding-sheath is in the left ventricle, mitral valve tissue that is within the left ventricle is encircled by helically wrapping the anchor around the mitral valve tissue. Subsequently, the surrounding-sheath is extracted from the heart. Other embodiments are also described.

An apparatus includes an end effector including an anvil and lower jaw. The anvil is pivotable toward the lower jaw to capture tissue. The apparatus further includes a stapling and severing assembly configured to sever and staple tissue clamped between the anvil and the lower jaw. A staple cartridge is coupled with the lower jaw. The staple cartridge includes a deck facing the anvil, a plurality of staples positioned in a plurality of staple openings formed through the deck, and a cinching feature positioned on the deck. At least a portion of the cinching feature is configured to be captured by the staples as the staples are driven out of the staple openings in response to activation of the stapling and severing mechanism. The cinching feature is configured to cinch severed and stapled tissue.