A device structured to suppress mitral regurgitation by restricting prolapse of a mitral valve leaflet and including a base correspondingly dimensioned to the mitral valve and including a central portion, structured to allow blood flow there through and a peripheral portion or ring connected to the central portion in substantially surrounding relation thereto. An operative position of the base includes the central portion disposed in overlying, movement restricting relation to at least one of the valve leaflets and the ring concurrently anchored adjacent or directly to the native annulus of the mitral valve. The physical characteristics of the base facilitate its movement with and conformance to the mitral valve during diastole and systole cycles of the heart.

A stent (scaffold) or other luminal prosthesis comprising circumferential structural elements which provides high strength after deployment and allows for scaffold to uncage, and/or allow for scaffold or luminal expansion thereafter. The circumferential scaffold may be formed from degradable material, or may be formed from non-degradable material and will be modified to expand and/or uncage after deployment.

A prosthetic heart valve includes a valve frame defining an aperture that extends along a central axis and a flow control component mounted within the aperture. The valve frame includes a distal anchoring element and a proximal anchoring element. The valve frame has a compressed configuration to allow the prosthetic heart valve to be delivered to a heart of a patient via a delivery catheter. The valve frame is configured to transition to an expanded configuration when released from the delivery catheter. The prosthetic heart valve is configured to be seated in a native annulus when the valve frame is in the expanded configuration. The distal and proximal anchoring elements configured to be inserted through the native annulus prior to seating the prosthetic heart valve. The proximal anchoring element is ready to be deployed subannularly or is optionally configured to be transitioned from a first configuration to a second configuration after the prosthetic valve is seated.

To provide a valve cusp sizer which is small and easy to handle. The present invention relates to a valve cusp sizer 100 for determining the size of a valve cusp depending on the size of a cardiac valve. The valve cusp sizer 100 includes a front surface 10 formed in an arcuate surface form to be abutted against an organism, a back surface 20 positioned on an opposite surface side of the front surface 10, and a pinching portion 30 protruding from the back surface 20. By removing a grip member and a grip member attachment portion from a conventional valve cusp sizer in this manner, and by forming the pinching portion 30 to be held by a clamp, tweezers, or the like, it is possible to dramatically miniaturize the valve cusp sizer while maintaining necessary functions of the valve cusp sizer.

A device for improving the function of a heart valve comprises: a support member formed from a shape memory material, and a restraining member providing a restraining action on a course of the support member. The support member may abut one side of the valve conforming to the shape of the valve annulus upon said shape memory material assuming an activated shape while the restraining member restrains the course of the support member. The restraining action is removable for allowing the support member to assume a desired, altered course. The restraining member may be biodegradable to be degraded within a patient or may be detachable from the support member to be withdrawn. The support member according to another embodiment presents a shape change in that an increased cross-section is associated with a shortened length of the support member. The support member according to yet another embodiment has a first and a second activated shape.

An apparatus for partially supporting a leaflet of a regurgitant heart valve comprises at least one subvalvular device including a subvalvular supporting portion including a leaflet-contacting upper supporter surface longitudinally spaced from an oppositely facing lower supporter surface. A supporter perimeter wall extends longitudinally between the upper and lower supporter surfaces, with at least a portion contacting a subvalvular cardiac wall adjacent to the heart valve. An anchor portion is adjacent to, and longitudinally spaced from, the upper supporter surface. The anchor portion includes a leaflet-contacting lower anchor surface longitudinally spaced from an oppositely facing upper anchor surface. A connector neck is interposed longitudinally between, and is directly attached to both of, the upper supporter surface and the lower anchor surface. The connector neck penetrates longitudinally through at least one of a base of the leaflet and an annulus of the heart valve at a manufactured puncture site.

A medical device for treating a heart valve insufficiency, with an endoprosthesis which can be introduced into a patient's body and expanded to secure a heart valve prosthesis in the patient's aorta. In an embodiment, the endoprosthesis has a plurality of positioning arches configured to be positioned with respect to a patient's aorta and a plurality of retaining arches to support a heart valve prosthesis. The endoprosthesis includes a first collapsed mode during the process of introducing it into the patient's body and a second expanded mode when it, is implanted.

An apparatus for partially supporting a leaflet of a regurgitant heart valve includes at least one subvalvular device including a subvalvular supporting portion and an anchor portion. The subvalvular supporting portion and anchor portion are each at least partially formed from at least one of braided mesh strands of a first configuration, braided mesh strands of a second configuration, a balloon, a plurality of longitudinally extending struts, and a plurality of laterally extending struts. A connector neck is interposed longitudinally between, and is attached to both of, the subvalvular supporting portion and the anchor portion. The connector neck penetrates longitudinally through at least one of a base of the leaflet and an annulus of the heart valve at a manufactured puncture site.

A differential pressure regulating device is provided for controlling in-vivo pressure in a body, and in particularly in a heart. The device may include a shunt being positioned between two or more lumens in a body, to enable fluids to flow between the lumens, and an adjustable flow regulation mechanism being configured to selectively cover an opening of the shunt, to regulate the flow of fluid through the shunt in relation to a pressure difference between the body lumens. In some embodiments a control mechanism coupled to the adjustable flow regulation mechanism may be provided, to remotely activate the adjustable flow regulation mechanism.

An epicardial clip for reshaping the annulus of the mitral valve of a heart. The epicardial clip includes a curved member having an anterior segment configured to be positioned in the transverse sinus of the heart, a posterior segment configured to be positioned on the posterior side of the heart, such as on or inferior to the atrioventricular groove, and a lateral segment extending between the anterior segment and the posterior segment. The lateral segment includes a curve such that the first end of the member is positioned at or above the plane of the mitral valve and the second end of the member is positioned at or below the plane of the mitral valve.