The present disclosure relates to an anchor assembly. The anchor assembly includes an anchor defining a cavity and an opening to the cavity; and a headless insertion member configured for arrangement within the anchor cavity, the insertion member including a body having a threaded proximal portion, a non-threaded distal portion, and a cannulation extending a partial length of the insertion member. Other anchor assemblies, anchors, and delivery devices are also disclosed.

Apparatus for coupling a prosthetic chorda to an atrioventricular valve leaflet, the apparatus comprising: a neochorda delivery system comprising a steerable and pushable catheter housing a neochorda attached to a neochorda puncture needle, the catheter operable to push the puncture needle to puncture and thread the neochorda through a papillary muscle of a ventricle; a retriever system comprising a catheter housing a grabber operable to capture the neochorda puncture needle after being threaded through the papillary muscle and withdraw the neochorda puncture needle and neochorda from the ventricle; and a tissue clamping system comprising a catheter housing distal and proximal tissue clamps deployable to clamp a region of an atrioventricular valve between them and hold the region so that it may be punctured by the puncture needle to deliver the neochorda through the leaflet and to the papillary muscle.

Disclosed herein are embodiments of a no-hole-preparation suture anchor including a tubular anchor body, a tapered tip coupled to the anchor body, an eyelet extending transversely through the anchor, and a plurality of longitudinal ribs extending along at least a portion of the anchor length. The material of the tapered tip is harder than that of the anchor body to facilitate insertion. An anchor inserter for use in combination with the suture anchor includes an elongated, tubular shaft defining a cannulation extending between a proximal end and a distal end. A plurality of tines extends distally from the distal end of the shaft. The anchor includes a plurality of longitudinally extending slots, dimensioned to receive respective ones of the inserter tines. The slots extend along the length of the anchor body and continue into the proximal end of the tubular shaft of the distal tip. The circumferential position of each of the slots is further selected such that the slots are circumferentially adjacent to, but do not intersect, the eyelet.

Various embodiments of anchors are configured to be inserted into a heart wall of a patient to anchor a suture as an artificial chordae under an appropriate tension for proper valve function. Each of the disclosed anchor embodiments “toggles” from a first position for delivery of the anchor to the heart wall and a second position for insertion of the anchor into the heart wall. In some embodiments, it is the “toggle” to the second position that provides the insertion force for inserting the anchor into the heart muscle sufficient to retain the anchor from accidental withdrawal from the heart wall during normal valve operation (e.g., when a valve leaflet pulls on the suture attached to the anchor during systole). Such anchors are particularly suitable for use in intravascular, transcatheter procedures as described above given the inherent difficulties in providing sufficient force for insertion of an anchor into the heart wall with a flexible catheter.

A method is provided for reducing tricuspid valve regurgitation of a patient. The method includes implanting a first tissue anchor at a first implantation site in cardiac tissue in the vicinity of the tricuspid valve of the patient, and implanting a second tissue anchor at a second implantation site in cardiac tissue of the patient opposite the first implantation site across the tricuspid valve. Using a spool that winds therewithin at least a portion of a longitudinal member that couples the first and the second tissue anchors together, tension is applied between the first and the second tissue anchors to alter the geometry of the tricuspid valve by rotating the spool.

Disclosed are methods, systems, and devices for the endovascular repair of cardiac valves, particularly the atrioventricular valves which inhibit back flow of blood from a heart ventricle during contraction. The procedures described herein can be performed with interventional tools, guides and supporting catheters and other equipment introduced to the heart chambers from the patient's arterial or venous vasculature remote from the heart. The interventional tools and other equipment may be introduced percutaneously or may be introduced via a surgical cut down, and then advanced from the remote access site through the vasculature until they reach the heart.

Systems and methods to compress or anchor soft tissue are disclosed using one or more anchoring assemblies.

Syndesmosis fixation assemblies, systems, and methods thereof. A syndesmosis fixation assembly includes a suture retaining portion having a plurality of suture openings formed therein and a suture securing portion rotatably connected to the suture retaining portion. The suture securing portion is movable between a first position wherein a suture is moveable within the suture retaining portion and a second position wherein the suture is frictionally secured within the suture retaining portion. A bone insertion portion has a distal bone insertion end adapted for insertion into a bone, a proximal bone insertion end connected to the suture retaining portion, and a central longitudinal axis extending between the distal bone insertion end and the proximal bone insertion end.

Apparatus and methods to reduce ventricular volume are disclosed. The device takes the form of a transventricular anchor assembly, which presses a portion of the ventricular wall inward, thereby reducing the available volume of the ventricle. The anchor assembly is deployed using a curved introducer that may be inserted into one ventricle, through the septum and into the opposite ventricle. Barbs or protrusions along a tension member of the anchor assembly combined with a mechanical stop and a sealing member hold the device in place once deployed.

A system for an anatomical joint includes a first fastener, a second fastener, a prosthetic ligament member, and a biasing member associated with at least one of the first and second fasteners. The first fastener is operable to be connected to a first bone portion. The second fastener is operable to be connected to a second bone portion. The prosthetic ligament member is flexible and is directly coupled to both the first and second fasteners to support the first bone portion and the second bone portion for relative movement. A portion of the prosthetic ligament member extends from the first fastener to the second fastener and has an adjustable length. The biasing member is operable to bias the prosthetic ligament member to thereby maintain tension in the prosthetic ligament member.