The invention relates to a device for use in the transcatheter treatment of mitral valve regurgitation, specifically a coaptation assistance element for implantation across the valve; a system including the coaptation assistance element and anchors for implantation; a system including the coaptation assistance element and delivery catheter; and a method for transcatheter implantation of a coaptation element across a heart valve.

A device and system for use with medical devices, such as catheter devices or systems. The device or system comprises an anchor for securing to tissue. The anchor comprises a series of segments that allow the anchor to be actuated from a delivery configuration to a deployed configuration. The anchor may include a tie band and a free end. In some examples, the device or system is used in treating a diseased native valve in a patient. The anchor may part of a delivery device to implant a prosthetic valve. Subsequent to delivery, the components of the delivery device are actuated to secure the prosthetic valve within the diseased valve.

Methods and devices for the treatment of cardiac valve dysfunction through the placement of lines and anchors. The lines and anchors can form artificial chordae between valve leaflets and the ventricular wall or papillary muscles or connect the two valve leaflets together. The methods and devices offer a mechanism for performing this technique with the heart still beating, and allows for the placement of multiple lines with a single device.

A prosthetic heart valve system may include a prosthetic heart valve, a tether having a first end configured to connect to the prosthetic heart valve and a second end, and a collapsible and expandable anchor. The anchor includes a center rim configured to couple to the second end of the tether. The anchor further includes a plurality of struts extending radially outward from the center rim forming an inner dome that is concave toward a heart when the anchor is in a resting configuration implanted on an apex of the heart. The anchor further includes a plurality of wings extending radially outward from the struts.

Described herein are devices for approximating targeted tissue by intertwining two or more sutures together. The sutures are attached to the targeted tissue and routed to a twister device. The twister device secures end portions of the sutures and twists them to intertwine the sutures. Controlling the number of twists provides control over the forces applied to the targeted tissue. In conjunction with visualization feedback, real-time adjustments can be made to achieved targeted results, such as elimination of mitral regurgitation when the disclosed methods and apparatus are applied to mitral valve repair.

A prosthetic cardiac valve assembly and method of implanting the same is disclosed. In certain disclosed embodiments, the prosthetic valve assembly is an annuloplasty ring with an attached artificial valve. The prosthetic valve assembly can be secured to native heart tissue by suturing or other suitable method of the annuloplasty ring to the native heart tissue. The prosthetic valve leaflets of the prosthetic valve can also be anchored to the native heart tissue to prevent prolapse. In certain embodiments, the prosthetic valve leaflets are anchored to the native papillary muscles. In still other embodiments, the prosthetic valve assembly contains exactly the number of prosthetic valve leaflets as are in the native valve that the prosthetic valve assembly is configured to replace. With the prosthetic valve assembly properly positioned, it will replace the function of the native valve.

A transluminal sheath is advanced transseptally into a left atrium of the subject. A distal end of a surrounding-sheath, having an anchor disposed therein, is advanced via a distal end of the transluminal sheath, into a left ventricle of the subject via a commissure of the mitral valve. While the distal end of the surrounding-sheath is in the left ventricle, the surrounding-sheath is pulled proximally with respect to the anchor to expose the anchor. While the distal end of the surrounding-sheath is in the left ventricle, mitral valve tissue that is within the left ventricle is encircled by helically wrapping the anchor around the mitral valve tissue. Subsequently, the surrounding-sheath is extracted from the heart. Other embodiments are also described.

A system for reshaping a valve annulus includes an elongate template having a length along a longitudinal axis and at least one concavity in a generally lateral direction along said length. The pre-shaped template is positioned against at least a region of an inner peripheral wall of the valve annulus, and at least one anchor on the template is advanced into a lateral wall of the valve annulus to reposition at least one segment of the region of the inner peripheral wall of the valve annulus into said concavity. In this way, a peripheral length of the valve annulus can be foreshortened and/or reshaped to improve coaptation of the valve leaflets and/or to eliminate or decrease regurgitation of a valve.

Apparatus and methods are described herein for use in the transfemoral delivery and deployment of a prosthetic mitral valve. In some embodiments, a method includes inverting an outer frame of a prosthetic mitral valve when in a biased expanded configuration. After inverting the outer frame, the prosthetic mitral valve is inserted into a lumen of a delivery sheath such that the mitral valve is moved to a collapsed configuration. The delivery sheath is inserted into a femoral vein and moved through the femoral vein and a septum of a heart until a distal end of the delivery sheath is disposed in the left atrium of the heart. The prosthetic mitral valve is moved distally out of the delivery sheath such that the inverted outer frame reverts and the prosthetic mitral valve assumes its biased expanded configuration. The prosthetic mitral valve is then positioned within a mitral annulus of the heart.

A minimally invasive device and method for suturing papillary muscles includes drawing a suture through a first papillary muscle using a needle, drawing the suture through a second papillary muscle, and tightening the suture to move at least one of the first papillary muscle and the second papillary muscle towards the other of the first papillary muscle and the second papillary muscle.