An implantable prosthetic device such as might be used to treat poor function of a diseased heart valve in a medical patient includes a body portion and an anchor portion including a plurality of paddles. Clasps attached to the paddles include fixed arms and moveable arms operable to secure the device to the patient's native valve leaflets.

A transcatheter valve prosthesis including a tubular stent, a prosthetic valve component disposed within and secured to the stent, and a centering mechanism coupled to and encircling an outer surface of the tubular stent. The centering mechanism includes a self-expanding centering ring having an expanded diameter in the expanded configuration that is greater than an expanded diameter of the tubular stent in the expanded configuration and a plurality of self-expanding spokes radially extending between the tubular stent and the centering ring. The centering mechanism may include a base ring and/or a skirt. Alternatively, the centering mechanism includes a plurality of self-expanding loops. When each loop is in a delivery configuration the loop has a straightened profile that proximally extends from a proximal end of the tubular stent. When each loop is in an expanded configuration the loop has a U-shaped profile radially spaced apart from the tubular stent.

An implantable prosthetic device such as might be used to treat poor function of a diseased heart valve in a medical patient includes a body portion and an anchor portion including a plurality of paddles. Clasps attached to the paddles include fixed arms and moveable arms operable to secure the device to the patient's native valve leaflets.

A method is presented for tricuspid valve commissural annuloplasty for secondary tricuspid insufficiency. The method comprises suturing through a valve annulus, and bringing the valve annulus to its normal size while eliminating its regurgitation. The suturing comprises applying individual sutures on pledgets through the tricuspid valve annulus from a right ventricle side along anteroposterior and posteroseptal commissures on both sides of each of said commissures, spaced-apart from them; taking out needles of said sutures from a right atrium side and tying knots along the commissures between them.

Medical devices and method for making and using the same are disclosed. An example medical device may include implantable medical device for use along the biliary and/or pancreatic tract. The implantable medical device may include a tubular member having a first end configured to be disposed within the duodenum of a patient and a second end configured to be disposed adjacent to a pancreatic duct and/or bile duct. The tubular member may have a body including one or more wire filaments that are woven together. The tubular member may also have an outer surface with a longitudinal channel formed therein.

A method of establishing an anastomosis utilizing a harvested blood vessel includes connecting the blood vessel to an artery, thereby forming an anastomosis therebetween. The method further includes wrapping an outer surface of the blood vessel with a tubular support. The tubular support exerts a radially-inward force on the blood vessel.

The present invention includes an embolic protection device comprising a catheter having a self-expanding embolic filter that is disposed around the catheter proximal to a distal portion, wherein the embolic filter comprises a frame, and the frame defines an opening of the embolic filter that faces the distal end of the catheter; a deployment mechanism that is disposed around at least a portion of the catheter, wherein the deployment mechanism is longitudinally movable with respect to the catheter, the deployment mechanism is configured to contain the embolic filter in a collapsed configuration, and the embolic filter is configured to self-expand upon the longitudinal retraction of the deployment mechanism; and a wire coupled to the frame for expanding the size or diameter of the embolic filter opening.

This invention relates to the design and function of a compressible valve replacement prosthesis, collared or uncollared, which can be deployed into a beating heart without extracorporeal circulation using a transcatheter delivery system. The design as discussed focuses on the deployment of a device via a minimally invasive fashion and by way of example considers a minimally invasive surgical procedure preferably utilizing the intercostal or subxyphoid space for valve introduction. In order to accomplish this, the valve is formed in such a manner that it can be compressed to fit within a delivery system and secondarily ejected from the delivery system into the annulus of a target valve such as a mitral valve or tricuspid valve.

A valve repair device includes a first paddle, a second paddle, a spacer, a first gripping member, and a second gripping member. The first paddle and the second paddle are configured to move between a closed position and an open position. The spacer is disposed between the first paddle and the second paddle. The first gripping member is disposed between the first paddle and the spacer. The second gripping member is disposed between the second paddle and the spacer. The first paddle and the first gripping member are configured to capture a first native valve leaflet. The second paddle and the second gripping member are configured to capture a second native valve leaflet.

Apparatus and methods are provided including a mitral valve prosthesis. The prosthesis includes an inner support structure having downstream and upstream sections, the upstream section having a cross-sectional area greater than the downstream section. The inner support structure is configured to be positioned on an atrial side of the native valve complex, and to prevent the prosthesis from being dislodged into the left ventricle. A prosthetic valve having prosthetic valve leaflets is coupled to the inner support structure. An outer support structure has engagement arms, downstream ends of the engagement arms being coupled to the inner support structure. The prosthesis is configured such that, upon implantation thereof: downstream ends of the native valve leaflets, downstream ends of the engagement arms, and downstream ends of the prosthetic leaflets,

are disposed at a longitudinal distance from one another of less than 3 mm. Other embodiments are also described.