Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a method and a device for treating heart failure by normalizing elevated blood pressure in the left and right atria of a heart of a mammal. The present disclosure includes methods for creating and maintaining an opening in the atrial septum. Tools for making an opening and enlarging the opening are also disclosed. Use of the techniques and tools described herein prolongs the patency of an intra-atrial pressure relief opening.

Abstract: A method and devices for relieving pressure in the left atrium of a patient's heart is disclosed. The method includes using an ablative catheter in a minimally invasive procedure to prepare an opening from the coronary sinus into a left atrium of the patient's heart. Once the opening is prepared, the opening may be enlarged by a technique such as expanding a balloon within the opening. A stent is then placed within the coronary sinus of the patient, with a transverse portion expanding within the opening, allowing blood to flow from the left atrium to the coronary sinus and then to the right atrium. Pressure within the left atrium is thus relieved.

Abstract: Systems, devices and methods for securing tissue including the annulus of a mitral valve. The systems, devices and methods may employ catheter based techniques and devices to plicate tissue and perform an annuloplasty.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a method and a device for treating heart failure by normalizing elevated blood pressure in the left and right atria of a heart of a mammal. The present disclosure includes methods for creating and maintaining an opening in the atrial septum. Tools for making an opening and enlarging the opening are also disclosed. Use of the techniques and tools described herein prolongs the patency of an intra-atrial pressure relief opening.

Abstract: The present teachings provide a device to change the pressure in a chamber of a heart and methods of making and using thereof. One aspect of the present teachings provides a device comprising a frame (for example, a metallic frame) and a scaffold. The frame of the device has a distal flange portion, a shunt portion, and a proximal flange portion. The distal and proximal flange portions can align with the shunt portion and form an elongated first profile. At least one of the distal and proximal flange portions can bend radially away from the shunt portion to form a flange like profile. The scaffold includes one or more than covering layers and encloses parts of the frame or the entire frame. The covering layer provides a barrier between the biological matter and the frame of the device.

Abstract: The present teachings provide a device to close a ductus arteriosus percutaneously. One aspect of the present teachings provides a device comprising at least one flange portion configured to be positioned against a vascular wall outside one end of a ductus arteriosus, and a body portion configured to be positioned inside the ductus arteriosus. The body portion of the device has a length adjustable in order for the device to fit inside patients with various ductus arteriosus lengths. The at least one flange portion of the device has pivotability in order for at least one flange to deflect from the longitudinal axis of the body portion so that the deployed device can be positioned at a treatment site allowing the discs to sit flat against the vascular tissue to promote closure while avoiding disruption of flow within the pulmonary artery and aorta or applying excess pressure to the surrounding vascular tissue.

Abstract: A method and devices for relieving pressure in the left atrium of a patient's heart is disclosed. The method includes using an ablative catheter in a minimally invasive procedure to prepare an opening from the coronary sinus into a left atrium of the patient's heart. Once the opening is prepared, the opening may be enlarged by a technique such as expanding a balloon within the opening. A stent is then placed within the coronary sinus of the patient, with a transverse portion expanding within the opening, allowing blood to flow from the left atrium to the coronary sinus and then to the right atrium. Pressure within the left atrium is thus relieved..

Abstract: A device for implanting into an atrial septum of a patient. In some embodiments, the device has a core region to be disposed in an opening in the atrial septum; a distal retention region adapted to engage tissue on a left atrial side of the septal wall; a proximal retention region adapted to engage tissue on a right atrial side of the septal wall; and a retrieval region comprising a plurality of retrieval members, each retrieval member comprising a connector at a proximal end, the connector being adapted to connect to a delivery system. The device has a delivery configuration and a deployed configuration, the core region, distal retention region and proximal retention region each having a smaller diameter in the delivery configuration than in the deployed configuration, the retrieval member connectors being disposed proximal to and radially outward from the opening in the deployed configuration.

Abstract: The present teachings provide devices for puncturing the atrial septum percutaneously. Specifically, one aspect of the present teachings provides a trans-septal puncturing device comprising one or more of a locating element, a stabilizing element, a puncturing element, a safety element, and optionally a monitoring element, each of which is disposed in a lumen of a sheath. The locating element and the stabilizing element locate a desired puncture site and stabilize the trans-septal puncturing device at or near the site. The puncturing element of the trans-septal puncturing device has a limited puncturing distance due in certain instances to the safety element. The present teachings provide methods of using such device for percutaneously locating a fossa ovalis, stabilizing such device at the fossa ovalis, and piercing tissue across the fossa ovalis.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a method and a device for treating heart failure by normalizing elevated blood pressure in the left and right atria of a heart of a mammal. The present disclosure includes methods for creating and maintaining an opening in the atrial septum. Tools for making an opening and enlarging the opening are also disclosed. Use of the techniques and tools described herein prolongs the patency of an intra-atrial pressure relief opening.

Abstract: Devices and methods for treating heart disease by normalizing elevated blood pressure in the left and right atria of a heart of a mammal are disclosed. Devices may include an adjustable hydraulic diameter and/or a removable and/or replaceable shunt portion. Devices may include absorbable materials, the absorption of which directly or indirectly causes alterations of the fluid flow capacities the devices.

Abstract: Systems, devices and methods for securing tissue including the annulus of a mitral valve. The systems, devices and methods may employ catheter based techniques and devices to plicate tissue and perform an annuloplasty.

Abstract: The present teachings provide a device to change the pressure in a chamber of a heart and methods of making and using thereof. One aspect of the present teachings provides a device comprising a frame (for example, a metallic frame) and a scaffold. The frame of the device has a distal flange portion, a shunt portion, and a proximal flange portion. The distal and proximal flange portions can align with the shunt portion and form an elongated first profile. At least one of the distal and proximal flange portions can bend radially away from the shunt portion to form a flange like profile. The scaffold includes one or more than covering layers and encloses parts of the frame or the entire frame. The covering layer provides a barrier between the biological matter and the frame of the device.

Abstract: Catheter based systems and methods for securing tissue including the annulus of a mitral valve. The systems and methods employ catheter based techniques and devices to plicate tissue and perform an annuloplasty.

Abstract: Devices and methods to enhance the implantation, retrievability, or repositionability are provided. Embodiments of devices include pivotable sections providing the ability to maintain the device's engagement with a delivery system during implantation where the deliver system approaches an opening of the septum at an angle. Embodiments of devices also include configurations that allow for improved retrieval into a delivery system in the event that a malfunction or a problem with the patients physiology is detected.

Abstract: Devices and methods for treating heart disease by normalizing elevated blood pressure in the left and right atria of a heart of a mammal are disclosed. Devices may include an adjustable hydraulic diameter shunt portion which can be manually adjusted in vivo. Methods are provided for adjusting the flow rate of the devices in vivo.

Abstract: A system is provided for delivering respective anchors into spaced apart locations along an annulus of a mitral valve. The system includes a first catheter member having a first lumen formed therein for receiving a first guide wire and also includes a second catheter member that is configured to move between an expanded position and a collapsed position relative to the first catheter member. The second catheter member has a lumen formed therein for receiving a second guide wire when the second catheter member is in the expanded position. The second catheter member is fixedly connected to the first catheter member by a first connector (that defines first and second living hinges) which is configured to deploy under a select condition to automatically cause the second catheter member to move to the expanded position.

Abstract: Systems, devices and methods for securing tissue including the annulus of a mitral valve. The systems, devices and methods may employ catheter based techniques and devices to plicate tissue and perform an annuloplasty.

Abstract: An intravascular ultrasound catheter system is provided and enables a simplified, economical technique for ultrasound visualization of a blood vessel. The catheter may include a park ablation system for crossing chronic total occlusions and severe stenoses. The catheter is advanceable and is oriented entirely under manual control of the clinician and the application of radiofrequency energy for spark erosion of the stenosis also is controlled manually by the clinician. The system enables the clinician to observe an ultrasound image sufficiently to determine where to orient the ablation electrode so as to reduce the risk of dissection or perforation of the blood vessel. The ultrasound image is generated in response to manual rotation of the catheter and the ablation spark is generated only when the physician is satisfied as to the orientation of the electrode within the vessel.

Abstract: Devices and methods to enhance the implantation, retreivability, or repositionability are provided. Embodiments of devices include pivotable sections providing the ability to maintain the device's engagement with a delivery system during implantation where the deliver system approaches an opening of the septum at an angle. Embodiments of devices also include configurations that allow for improved retrieval into a delivery system in the event that a malfunction or a problem with the patients physiology is detected.