Apparatus, systems, and methods are provided for repairing heart valves through percutaneous transcatheter delivery and fixation of annuloplasty rings to heart valves via a trans-apical approach to accessing the heart. A guiding sheath may be introduced into a ventricle of the heart through an access site at an apex of the heart. A distal end of the guiding sheath can be positioned retrograde through the target valve. An annuloplasty ring arranged in a compressed delivery geometry is advanced through the guiding sheath and into a distal portion of the guiding sheath positioned within the atrium of the heart. The distal end of the guiding sheath is retracted, thereby exposing the annuloplasty ring. The annuloplasty ring may be expanded from the delivery geometry to an operable geometry. Anchors on the annuloplasty ring may be deployed to press into and engage tissue of the annulus of the target valve.

A shunt device for creating a shunt in an atrial septum includes magnets coupled to inner loops of a coil comprising at least two inner loops and two outer loops, with a diameter of each of the inner loops being less than a diameter of the outer loops. The coil is made of a shape memory alloy (SMA) and is adapted to exert a compressive force upon layers of tissue caught between the inner loops of the coil. The magnets are adapted to provide additional compressive force to adjacent inner loops of the coil, thereby further causing the coil to cut through the layers of tissue and create a shunt. The diameter of the resultant shunt is less than the diameter of the outer loops, thereby preventing the outer two loops from passing through the created shunt. At least one end of the coil has a connection means for connecting with a delivery device.

A method for force, displacement, and rate control of shape memory material implant. The rate of implant shape change as well as the force exerted on the surrounding tissue of the implant can be controlled by the surgeon and the extent of movement is controlled in circumstances where the bone element is free to move. The invention allows for the first time the fine control of force when fixating osteoporotic bone and rate of bone transport when working near the spinal cord. This heating profile of the implant provides the surgeon to control the extent of microstructure phase transformation so that the rate, force or extent of tissue movement can be controlled individually or together.

A shunt device for creating a shunt in an atrial septum includes magnets coupled to inner loops of a coil comprising at least two inner loops and two outer loops, with a diameter of each of the inner loops being less than a diameter of the outer loops. The coil is made of a shape memory alloy (SMA) and is adapted to exert a compressive force upon layers of tissue caught between the inner loops of the coil. The magnets are adapted to provide additional compressive force to adjacent inner loops of the coil, thereby further causing the coil to cut through the layers of tissue and create a shunt. The diameter of the resultant shunt is less than the diameter of the outer loops, thereby preventing the outer two loops from passing through the created shunt. At least one end of the coil has a connection means for connecting with a delivery device.

Devices, systems and methods for altering functioning of a tissue/organ by application of force thereto. In one preferred embodiment, a device for reducing or preventing regurgitation of blood through a valve of a heart is provided. A device may include a main body having a segment adapted to apply force to a surface of tissue/organ and a member that applies counterforce to the force applied by the segment. Kits are provided in which devices having varying lengths and widths can be selected for the best fit for a particular location of treatment. A width sizing instrument may be provided. A length sizing instrument may be provided. A separate sleeve and/or pad may be provided which may be first anchored to the tissue/organ before fixing the device thereto.

A device for repairing a native heart valve includes a reinforcing structure configured to couple to a portion of the native heart valve to remodel a geometry of the native heart valve, and at least one supporting member connected to the reinforcing structure.

Devices, systems and methods for altering functioning of a tissue/organ by application of force thereto. In one preferred embodiment, a device for reducing or preventing regurgitation of blood through a valve of a heart is provided. A device may include a main body having a segment adapted to apply force to a surface of tissue/organ; a member that applies counterforce to the force applied by the segment; and an adjuster that is manually operable to change the force applied by the segment. The adjuster can be manually operated before or after anchoring of the device to the tissue/organ.

An epicardial device for reducing or preventing regurgitation of blood through a valve of a heart includes a main body having a segment adapted to apply force to an epicardial surface of the heart. A member that applies counterforce to the force applied by the segment is also provided. A foundation is configured to be anchored to the epicardial surface of the heart. The foundation includes a surface configured with attachment features. The device further includes a surface configured with mating attachment features configured to attach to the attachment features of the foundation. The mating attachment features and attachment features are separable and reattachable to allow repositioning of at least a portion of the device relative to the foundation.

A method of controllably deploying an endovascular device comprises delivering, into a body vessel, a Nitinol structural element comprising a variable austenite finish temperature A.sub.f(x) along a predetermined length (L) thereof, where 0<xL. The variable austenite finish temperature A.sub.f(x) increases or decreases monotonically as a function of x and lies above body temperature at any location along the predetermined length of the Nitinol structural element. During and/or after delivery into the body vessel, the Nitinol structural element is heated above body temperature. As a temperature of the Nitinol structural element reaches A.sub.f(x) at each location along the predetermined length, the Nitinol structural element recovers a pre-set shape at the respective location, and the endovascular device is controllably deployed.

A shunt device for creating a shunt in an atrial septum includes magnets coupled to inner loops of a coil comprising at least two inner loops and two outer loops, with a diameter of each of the inner loops being less than a diameter of the outer loops. The coil is made of a shape memory alloy (SMA) and is adapted to exert a compressive force upon layers of tissue caught between the inner loops of the coil. The magnets are adapted to provide additional compressive force to adjacent inner loops of the coil, thereby further causing the coil to cut through the layers of tissue and create a shunt. The diameter of the resultant shunt is less than the diameter of the outer loops, thereby preventing the outer two loops from passing through the created shunt. At least one end of the coil has a connection means for connecting with a delivery device.