A replacement heart valve commissure assembly may include: a locking mechanism including a first locking portion spaced apart from a second locking portion in a delivery configuration and configured to engage the second locking portion in a deployed configuration, the first locking portion being longitudinally actuatable relative to the second locking portion between the delivery and deployed configurations; and first and second valve leaflets secured to the first locking portion. A first sleeve portion of the first valve leaflet may be fixedly attached to a first fabric sleeve wrapped around a first leg of the first locking portion. A second sleeve portion of the second valve leaflet may be fixedly attached to a second fabric sleeve wrapped around a second leg of the first locking portion. The first fabric sleeve may include first and second end portions, and an elastic central portion configured to engage the first leg.

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.

The invention relates to an implant for improving coaptation of an atrioventricular valve in a heart, the atrioventricular valve having a native first leaflet, a native second leaflet and optionally an annulus adjacent a wall of an atrium of the heart, the implant comprising a support structure configured to be arranged on and fixed to the annulus or to at least one of the first and second native leaflets, the implant further comprising retention means fixed to the support structure so as to prevent prolapse of the at least one native leaflet, whereby the support structure comprises a resting element that is configured to rest against the wall of the atrium adjacent the valve.

A heart valve prosthesis can have a valve anchor with at least one U-shaped member extending about a longitudinal axis of the valve anchor. The U-shaped member can have a peak portion and a base portion. The peak portion can have an engagement structure that allows a surgeon to engage the valve anchor with a delivery device and manipulate a position of the valve anchor in situ in order to achieve optimal placement of the prosthesis at a target site within a patient.

The invention is a prosthetic device for improving function of a mitral valve. The device includes a sealing member configured for positioning between mitral valve leaflets. The device also includes an expandable anchor frame configured to be positioned within one or more heart chambers, for maintaining the sealing member at a desired position between valve leaflets. The sealing member reduces mitral regurgitation be filling the gap that can occur between opposing leaflets of a damaged mitral valve, thus restoring proper mitral valve closure.

A tissue clip for adjoining tissues including a body portion, a biasing mechanism interconnecting the body portion to a tissue grasping mechanism, the grasping mechanism having a first condition wherein the grasping mechanism is extending against and away from the body portion and a second condition wherein the grasping mechanism is biased against the body portion. A tissue clip and deployer combination. A method of interconnecting tissue by deploying the tissue clip, puncturing tissue to be interconnected with the tissue clip, and interconnecting the tissue. A method of treating an aneurism by deploying the tissue clip at an aneurism site, closing off the aneurism site with the tissue clip, and treating the aneurism. A method of imaging a surgical procedure with ultrasound by modifying a surface of a metal surgical instrument, and imaging the metal surgical instrument with ultrasound during a surgical procedure.

A medical device for improving function of a heart valve comprises at least a first partly pliant leaflet having a distal section and a proximal section. The distal section is configured to be oriented towards said inner section of said valve tissue in use. The first leaflet comprises at least two curving segments, such as bending lines extending from the proximal section towards said distal section thereby dividing said first leaflet to at least three portions. The distance between the line ends in the distal section area is shorter than the distance between the line ends in the proximal section area, thereby allowing at least a distal part of the portion locating between said curving segments, such as bending lines and being oriented towards said inner section of said valve tissue to bend to a first direction along the curving segments, such as bending lines when in use.

Leaflet extension devices for cardiac valve leaflets and methods of treating cardiac valve leaflets. Several embodiments are devices for resolving regurgitation in a cardiac valve comprising an expandable member and a cover. The expandable member has a stabilizing portion, a fixation member in opposition to the stabilizing portion, and a coaptation portion between the stabilizing portion and the expandable member. The stabilizing portion and the fixation member clamps the first native leaflet between the stabilizing portion and the fixation member. The coaptation portion projects from the stabilizing portion and the fixation member inwardly with respect to a first native leaflet of a cardiac valve such that the coaptation portion functionally extends the first native leaflet. The cover is attached to at least the coaptation portion of the expandable member.

An implantable prosthetic valve includes an annular metallic frame and a valve assembly supported within the frame. The annular support frame is constructed with three longitudinal support beams of fixed length and web-like constructions that extend between and connect the support beams. The support beams are spaced apart in a substantially equidistant manner. The web-like constructions allow the annular support frame to be radially collapsible and expandable. Each support beam preferably has a column of pre-formed openings or bores extending along a length of the support beam. The valve assembly includes three valve leaflets, wherein each leaflet has opposing side portions and each side portion is paired with an adjacent side portion of an adjacent leaflet to form a commissure. The three commissures are secured to three respective support beams with stitching that extends through the leaflets and through the pre-formed openings or bores.

An implant is configured to be coupled to first and second native leaflets of a native heart valve of a patient. The implant includes a proximal collar, a distal collar, and first and second clasps. Each of the first and second clasps has first and second tissue-engaging portions that are (1) disposed distal to the proximal collar and proximal to the distal collar, and (2) movable, with respect to each other, to clamp one of the leaflets between the first and second tissue-engaging portions of the clasp. The implant is configured such that, when the leaflets are clamped by the first and second clasps, the first and second clasps form the first and second native leaflets into a double orifice, each orifice configured to function as a respective check-valve. Other embodiments are also described.