The present invention provides a transapical implantable mitral valve device, which includes an outer valve stent comprising an outer valve stent body that is composed of a plurality of first structure units arranged in the circumferential direction and an anchoring unit that is disposed on the outer valve stent body for anchoring the mitral valve device in a human body, at least one of an inner surface and an outer surface of the outer valve stent body being covered with an outer skirt; an inner valve stent disposed inside the outer valve stent and interconnected with the outer valve stent, a cavity being formed between the outer valve stent and the inner valve stent; and a valve leaflet structure disposed in the inner valve stent to form a prosthetic valve.

The present invention refers to a medical device for tensioning grafts in orthopedic reconstruction of ligaments comprising two subsets: the force applicator subset and the adapter subset. The first subset comprises two identical and symmetrical side arms and uses a helical spring system with a brake to quantify the tensile force. Each side arm comprises a rack (9) linked with a helical compression spring (4), a guiding axle (1), a suture wire securing part (8) and an outer chute (10) in which the rack (9) slides. The adapter subset has a “U” shape and comprises an alignment cone (17) which engages in the graft housing tunnel for controlling the direction of the traction force, and a fixation system composed of an adapter (16), by spikes (19) to be adjustable to the anatomical region and to promote a stable fixation.

The present invention relates to an assembly for the tricuspid orifice of a human heart, comprising an external frame (100) connected to an internal stent (200) carrying a tricuspid valve bioprosthesis (210) and a sealing skirt (610). The external frame (100) is configured to hold its position in the native tricuspid annulus. The internal stent (200) is connected to the external frame by one or more fixing strands. The sealing skirt (610) covers the interstitial space existing between the external frame (100) and the internal stent (200). Developments are described which comprise in particular the use of a deformable region of the frame, various alternative embodiments of the sealing skirt, the use of a frame composed of multiple sub-sections, the use of fixing strands between the stent and the frame and of fixing elements for fixing the assembly to the native tissue, the use of sensors and/or actuators, and also the use of a stent in the inferior vena cava. Method aspects are described.

A catheter device is described. The device is for implanting an artificial chordae line (14) in the heart. The catheter device comprises: a leaflet anchor (10) for placement in a leaflet (12) of a heart valve, wherein the leaflet anchor (10) is arranged to be coupled to the artificial chordae line (14); and a leaflet anchor deployment mechanism (6, 30, 38) for deploying the leaflet anchor (10), wherein the leaflet anchor deployment mechanism (6, 30, 38) comprises a mechanical gripper device (30, 32, 32′), for grasping the leaflet (12), wherein the gripper device (30, 32, 32′) comprises a leaflet anchor tube 38 for housing the leaflet anchor (10) in a folded configuration. The gripper device (6, 30, 38) and the leaflet anchor (10) are arranged such that when, in use, the gripper device (6, 30, 38) grasps the leaflet (12), the leaflet anchor (10) can be pushed out of the leaflet anchor tube (38) to pierce the leaflet (12) and form the leaflet anchor (10) into an unfolded configuration so that hooked formations of the leaflet anchor (10) can, in use, secure the leaflet anchor (10) in the leaflet (12). The mechanical gripper device (6, 30, 38) includes a first gripper arm (30) rotatably coupled to a main body (4) of the catheter device so that the gripper arm (30) can rotate relative to the catheter device to move an outer end (42) of the first gripper arm (30) away from the main body (4) of the catheter device and a second gripper arm (32, 32′) rotatably and/or slideably coupled to the main body (4) of the catheter device so that the second gripper arm (32, 32′) can rotate and/or slide relative to the main body (4) of the catheter device to move an outer end 46 of the second gripper arm (32, 32′) away from the main body (4). The first and second gripper arms (30, 32, 32′) are arranged so that they can move to come into contact with one another at a point spaced apart from the main body (4) of the catheter device.

A heart valve prosthesis for replacing a native mitral valve includes a self-expanding frame with a plurality of anchoring members disposed along the lower region. A valve body is positioned within the self-expanding frame and includes a plurality of leaflets configured to allow blood flow through the self-expanding frame in only one direction. A skirt surrounds the self-expanding frame and is spaced apart therefrom for contacting surrounding tissue and impeding blood flow around the self-expanding frame. The skirt may be reinforced with wires to help maintain a desired shape. The leaflets in the valve body are preferably connected to the self-expanding frame through one or more intermediate components such that the valve body is spaced radially inwardly from an inner surface of the self-expanding frame.

Apparatus is provided for repairing a cardiac valve, the apparatus including a catheter sized for delivery through vasculature of a subject and an elongated and flexible annuloplasty structure having an annuloplasty structure axis. The annuloplasty structure is sized and configured for delivery to a heart of the subject through the catheter substantially along a catheter axis of the catheter while the annuloplasty structure axis is substantially parallel to the catheter axis. The apparatus also includes a plurality of anchors configured for delivery to a region of cardiac tissue from a proximal end of the catheter toward a distal end of the catheter and substantially along the annuloplasty structure axis and the catheter axis while at least a portion of the annuloplasty structure is within a delivery passage of the catheter. Other embodiments are also described.

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 of implanting a prosthetic heart valve within a patient can comprise inserting a distal end portion of a delivery apparatus and a prosthetic heart valve into the patient and advancing the prosthetic heart valve to a deployment location within the heart of the patient and inflating one or more of a plurality of differently-sized balloons in a balloon-assembly on the distal end portion of the delivery apparatus. The prosthetic heart valve can be mounted on the balloon assembly in a crimped state and the inflating of the one or more of the plurality of differently-sized balloons can expand the prosthetic heart valve from the crimped state to a radially expanded state having a non-cylindrical shape.

A stent comprises an elastically deformable stent wall forming a lumen extending between a first opening and a second opening of the stent. The stent wall is configured to be percutaneously delivered into a blood vessel, secure to a blood vessel wall of a blood vessel, and radially expand from a first configuration to a second configuration within the blood vessel into direct contact with the blood vessel wall. The first configuration defines a first major dimension, a first minor dimension, a first cross-sectional area, a first cross-sectional shape, and a first perimeter of the stent wall. The second configuration defines a second major dimension, a second minor dimension that is greater than the first minor dimension, a second cross-sectional area that is greater than the first cross-sectional area, and the first perimeter of the stent wall.

A method for treating regurgitation of blood flow through a diseased heart valve is provided. The diseased heart valve including an annulus, an anterior valve leaflet, a posterior valve leaflet and a subvalvular apparatus. The method includes providing an apparatus comprising a substantially annular support member, at least one infra-annular support member securely connected thereto, and at least one anchoring element associated with the at least one infra-annular support member. The method further includes attaching the substantially annular support member to the annulus of the diseased heart valve and attaching proximal and distal ends of a prosthetic chordae tendineae to the at least one anchoring element and a papillary muscle, respectively, so that the papillary muscle is caused to move medially.