The ventricle of a heart can be reshaped by passing a plurality of catheters from inside the ventricle to outside the ventricle through holes in the ventricle wall. Fluid-tight bags are then delivered through the catheters and expanded outside the ventricle to a diameter that is larger than the holes. A fluid substance is introduced into the bags, and the fluid substance is configured to solidify into solid pads that are also larger than the holes. The solid pads are then pulled towards each other and locked in position in order to reshape the ventricle.

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.

A tissue anchor system is provided that includes a first tissue anchor, a second tissue anchor that is separate and distinct from the first tissue anchor, and one or more tethers, which are configured to couple the first tissue anchor to the second tissue anchor. When the first tissue anchor is unconstrained, a head thereof is coaxial with an axis of a shaft thereof, and a tissue-coupling element thereof extends from a distal end of the shaft, is generally orthogonal to the axis, and is shaped such that if the tissue-coupling element were to be projected onto a plane that is perpendicular to the axis, at least 80% of an area of a projection of the tissue-coupling element on the plane would fall within a first angle of 180 degrees in the plane having a vertex at the axis. Other embodiments are also described.

Devices, systems and methods are provided for stabilizing and grasping tissues such as valve leaflets, assessing the grasp of these tissues, approximating and fixating the tissues, and assessing the fixation of the tissues to treat cardiac valve regurgitation, particularly mitral valve regurgitation.

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.

An implant for assisting contraction and/or extension of a muscle comprises a stem (10) with an adhesion resistant segment (14) and an anchoring segment (20) wherein at least a portion of each of said adhesion resistant segment and said anchoring segment is configured to be implantable within a muscle and said anchoring segment is positioned on a distal portion of said stem and said adhesion resistant segment is positioned proximally on said stem relative to said anchoring segment.

A tissue anchor is provided for delivery by a deployment tool in a constrained state, the tissue anchor including a shaft; a tissue-coupling element, which includes a wire including a shape-memory alloy; and a flexible elongate tension member, which is distinct from the wire. The flexible elongate tension member includes a distal portion that is fixed to a site on the wire such that, when the tissue anchor is not constrained by the deployment tool, the flexible elongate tension member applies, to the tissue-coupling element, tension that constrains lateral expansion of the tissue-coupling element away from a central longitudinal axis of the shaft, by preventing the tissue-coupling element from automatically assuming a predetermined shape provided by the shape-memory alloy of the wire. Other embodiments are also described.

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.

Systems, devices and methods for repairing a native heart valve. In one embodiment, a repair device for repairing a native mitral valve having an anterior leaflet and a posterior leaflet between a left atrium and a left ventricle comprises a support having a contracted configuration and an extended configuration. In the contracted configuration, the support is sized to be inserted under the posterior leaflet between a wall of the left ventricle and chordae tendineae. In the extended configuration, the support is configured to project anteriorly with respect to a posterior wall of the left ventricle by a distance sufficient to position at least a portion of the posterior leaflet toward the anterior leaflet.

A medical device is disclosed, which is capable of treating cardiac insufficiency, on a causal therapy basis. The medical device is a heart harness composed of a porous hollow structure. A method of treating a heart disease includes applying the medical device as above to a heart of a subject in need thereof.