A sensor-retention structure includes a sensor-support arm configured to hold a sensor device and a stabilizer structure associated with the sensor-support arm and configured to project away from the sensor-support arm and provide stabilizing support for the sensor-support arm.

An epicardial clip for reshaping the annulus of the mitral valve of a heart 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.

Modular pre-loaded implant subassemblies that can be packaged separately from a handle, which allows using any one of a plurality of separately packaged modular pre-loaded implants with a common handle.

Devices and methods are disclosed for the treatment or repair of regurgitant cardiac valves, such as a mitral valve. An illustrative annuloplasty device can be placed in the coronary sinus to reshape the mitral valve and reduce mitral valve regurgitation. The disclosure also provides improved techniques for cardiac pacing.

Cardiomyopathy may be treated by distributing space-occupying agent within the myocardium in a pattern about one or more chambers of the heart, such that the space-modifying agent integrates into and thickens at least part of the cardiac wall about the chamber so as globally to reduce wall stress and stabilize or even reduce chamber size. Some patterns also cause a beneficial global reshaping of the chamber. These changes occur quickly and are sustainable, and have a rapid and sustainable therapeutic effect on cardiac function. Over time the relief of wall stress reduces oxygen consumption and promotes healing. Moreover, various long-term therapeutic effects may be realized depending on the properties of the space-occupying agent, including combinations with other therapeutic materials. Specific cardiac conditions treatable by these systems and methods include, for example, dilated cardiomyopathy (with or without overt aneurismal formations), congestive heart failure, and ventricular arrhythmias. Patterns of distribution of space-occupying agent within the myocardium for global resizing may also be used or augmented to treat localized conditions such as myocardial infarctions, overt aneurysm of the ventricular wall as typically forms in response to large transmural myocardial infarctions, and mitral regurgitation due to a noncompliant mitral valve. These techniques may also be used to treat localized conditions that may not yet have progressed to cardiomyopathy.

Devices, systems, and methods are provided including a structure having one or more surfaces configured for internal use within a patient's body and one or more therapeutic compositions comprising one or more active substances including a direct factor Xa inhibitor, and a direct factor IIa inhibitor disposed in or on the structure. The structure is configured to be positioned adjacent an injury site in the patient's body. The one or more active substances optionally include an anti-proliferative agent. The therapeutic composition is formulated to release the one or more active substances to the injury site to provide one or more of inhibit clot formation, promote clot dissolution, inhibit or dissolute inflammation, inhibit vessel injury, increase time before clotting, and/or inhibit cell proliferation.

Apparatus, comprising: (i) a catheter (64); (ii) an implant (100), comprising a flexible longitudinal member (102), and a linking member (104) that extends from a first linking site (106a) of the longitudinal member to a second linking site (106b) of the longitudinal member, the implant having: (a) a delivery state in which the longitudinal member is coaxial with the catheter, and at least a portion of the linking member is disposed alongside the longitudinal member, and (b) an implanted state in which a first distance between the first linking site and the second linking site, measured along the longitudinal member, is greater than a second distance between the first linking site and the second linking site, measured along the linking member; and (iii) a plurality of tissue anchors (46), slidable through the catheter and with respect to the longitudinal member. Other embodiments are also described.

A heart valve therapeutic device has an elongate anchor wherein the anchor has a stiffness to hold its shape and location to support the valve element. The anchor may have a stylet or a shaped or stiff collar arranged to provide a desired shape to the anchor and it may be lockable. A prosthetic valve element has leaflets and is supported on the anchor by coupler at a desired location. There is an actuator for changing relative axial position of the proximal and distal couplers on the anchor. The anchor stiffness may be sufficient to provide sufficient support to resist axial forces from the ventricle in use without necessarily having a fixing element engaging heart tissue. The prosthetic leaflets may extend proximally and radially outwardly, so that there is excellent co-apting of the native leaflets (NL) against the prosthetic leaflets.

An implant system for restoring and improving physiological intracardiac flow in a human heart is provided including a force transducting, structurally stabilizing, and functionally assisting ventricular inflatable cardiac implant within a human heart for restoring and improving physiologic intracardiac flow, restoring the ventricular vortex, preventing atrioventricular pressure gradient loss, mitigating valvular regurgitation, and utilizing native energy and force, via force transduction, to restore geometric elliptical proportion and function to the atria, the ventricles and ventricular walls, and the valvular apparatus itself.

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.