Abstract: Solutions for reducing irritation and/or trauma which may result upon contact of an implanted implantable device with tissue surrounding or adjacent to the implantable device. Various embodiments include features which allow a tangential or otherwise atraumatic contact of the implantable device with the tissue, in contrast with a sharper contact which may occur with prior art implantable devices. The broad principles are applicable to annuloplasty devices, and have other broader applications as well.

Abstract: An implant includes a pair of anchors and a pair of anchor housing assemblies, wherein an anchor housing assembly includes an anchoring component configured to translate the anchor proximally-distally through the anchor housing assembly and a cinch component configured to control a space between the pair of anchor housing assemblies.

Abstract: An implant includes a pair of anchors and a pair of anchor housing assemblies, wherein an anchor housing assembly includes an anchoring component configured to translate the anchor proximally-distally through the anchor housing assembly and a cinch component configured to control a space between the pair of anchor housing assemblies.

Abstract: A latch locking and release system having a control knob operably coupled with a latch system, and a tubular latch release mechanism. The cross-section of the tubular latch release mechanism is shiftable between a locking configuration and a release configuration. In the locking configuration, the control knob maintains latches in the latch system in an engaged configuration, and is blocked from moving to allow the latches to be disengaged. In the release configuration, the control knob may be moved to allow the latches to be disengaged. The latch release mechanism and control knob may have further features preventing inadvertent actuation of the latch locking and release system to allow the latch system to be disengaged.

Abstract: A low profile implant, system and method of deployment includes a plurality of anchors supported by a plurality of anchor housings. The anchor housings include one or more release mechanisms configured to affix the frame to the anchor housings during implant deployment, actuation and cinching, and to release the frame following cinching to enable the frame to be withdrawn from the treatment site.

Abstract: Anchoring assemblies that increase the surface area and/or amount of anchored tissue include a barb anchor, translatably disposed within the opening of an anchor housing, the barb anchor comprising a barb arm, the barb arm including a linear configuration wherein the barb arm is aligned with an axis of the opening and a deflected configuration wherein at least a portion the barb arm is deflected away from a central axis of the opening of the anchor housing.

Abstract: An actuator sleeve includes resiliency features that may reduce chronic strain on valve annulus implants. The resiliency features may relate to one or more of a material, a manufacture, a dimension, and/or design attribute of the sleeve. In one aspect the resiliency features may allow deformation of the sleeve at frame interfaces to distribute forces to reduce the frame fatigue.

Abstract: Anchoring assemblies that increase the surface area and/or amount of anchored tissue include a barb anchor, translatably disposed within the opening of an anchor housing, the barb anchor comprising a barb arm, the barb arm including a linear configuration wherein the barb arm is aligned with an axis of the opening and a deflected configuration wherein at least a portion the barb arm is deflected away from a central axis of the opening of the anchor housing.

Abstract: An implant includes a frame comprising a tubular body formed by a plurality of interconnected struts that are manufactured to reduce stresses and strains resulting from component interaction during chronic use. At least a portion of a longitudinal corner of one or more struts of the frame may be chamfered, rounded, or otherwise modified to distribute stresses experienced at the strut corner throughout the strut body. Chamfering and/or rounding corners along at least a portion of a strut of the frame may reduce stresses on the frame caused by interactions between the frame and other components of the implant. The implant may be manufactured by cutting (e.g., laser cutting) a plurality of struts from a tubular metal alloy, polymer, or the like forming the tubular body, and softening at least a portion of an edge of the strut by cutting, grinding, and/or micro-blasting the edges of the corner.

Abstract: Various embodiments of an implant delivery systems including at least one removable actuator to reshape a valve annulus are described. The systems may use the removable actuator to customize annular reshaping at a treatment site and withdraw the actuator from the treatment site following custom reshaping to provide a low profile annuloplasty implant.

Abstract: A low profile implant, system and method of deployment includes a frame comprising an elongate body having ends that overlap to form an annular configuration of the frame. A circumference of the frame may be modified by varying an extent of the overlap between the ends of the elongate body. The elongate structure may extend through a sleeve of a number of respective anchor housings of the implant along a first axis, and anchors may be deployed through bores in the anchor housings along a second axis to secure the anchor housings to tissue. The implant may be deployed about and anchored to a valve annulus, and the circumference of the frame, and associated anchored tissue, may be adjusted to reconfigure the valve annulus.

Abstract: Various embodiments of an implant delivery systems including at least one removable actuator to reshape a valve annulus are described. The systems may use the removable actuator to customize annular reshaping at a treatment site and withdraw the actuator from the treatment site following custom reshaping to provide a low profile annuloplasty implant.

Abstract: An anchor configured to maximize the surface area of the anchor to improve anchor retention is disclosed. The anchor may be configured with a width that differs from a thickness of the anchor. In some embodiments, the anchor be configured as a helical ribbon defining a central lumen about a central axis extending through the helical ribbon. The helical ribbon may vary in width, thickness, central lumen diameter, or a combination thereof, along its extent. The anchor may include retention features that are configured to promote tissue and/or implant interaction for improved anchor retention.

Abstract: An implant, system, and method of deployment includes a plurality of anchor housings coupled to one of the proximal end or distal end of an implant frame. Each anchor housing may include an anchor sleeve disposed within a bore of the anchor housing, the anchor sleeve having a lumen extending therethrough including features disposed on an internal wall of the lumen for translatably supporting at least one anchor. Each anchor sleeve may be independently translatable within the bore of the anchor housing to control a distal extent of travel of the at least one anchor through the at least one anchor housing.

Abstract: Solutions for reducing irritation and/or trauma which may result upon contact of an implanted implantable device with tissue surrounding or adjacent to the implantable device. Various embodiments include features which allow a tangential or otherwise atraumatic contact of the implantable device with the tissue, in contrast with a sharper contact which may occur with prior art implantable devices. The broad principles are applicable to annuloplasty devices, and have other broader applications as well.

Abstract: An anchoring system including an anchoring assembly having two or more anchor elements, and anchor drive mechanism having a respective actuator portion couplable with each anchor element and operable to separately and independently actuate each anchor element. In some embodiments, the actuator portions are on different portions of a common actuator component. The actuator portions actuate the anchor elements by different actuation movements. Is some embodiments, the actuator portions use different types of actuation movements, such as rotational motion to actuate one anchor element, and axial motion to actuate another anchor element. The actuator portions may be formed on different portions of a common actuator component, or as different structures coupled together.

Abstract: Example medical devices and methods of making example medical devices are disclosed. An example medical device includes a frame configured to be secured to cardiac tissue, wherein the frame includes a fatigue resistant nickel-titanium alloy that is heat set at a temp in the range of 450-550 degrees Celsius.

Abstract: An implant includes a frame comprising a tubular body formed by a plurality of interconnected struts that are manufactured to reduce stresses and strains resulting from component interaction during chronic use. At least a portion of a longitudinal corner of one or more struts of the frame may be chamfered, rounded, or otherwise modified to distribute stresses experienced at the strut corner throughout the strut body. Chamfering and/or rounding corners along at least a portion of a strut of the frame may reduce stresses on the frame caused by interactions between the frame and other components of the implant. The implant may be manufactured by cutting (e.g., laser cutting) a plurality of struts from a tubular metal alloy, polymer, or the like forming the tubular body, and softening at least a portion of an edge of the strut by cutting, grinding, and/or micro-blasting the edges of the corner.

Abstract: A low profile implant, system and method of deployment includes a frame comprising an elongate body having ends that overlap to form an annular configuration of the frame. A circumference of the frame may be modified by varying an extent of the overlap between the ends of the elongate body. The elongate structure may extend through a sleeve of a number of respective anchor housings of the implant along a first axis, and anchors may be deployed through bores in the anchor housings along a second axis to secure the anchor housings to tissue. The implant may be deployed about and anchored to a valve annulus, and the circumference of the frame, and associated anchored tissue, may be adjusted to reconfigure the valve annulus.

Abstract: An implant includes a pair of anchors and a pair of anchor housing assemblies, wherein an anchor housing assembly includes an anchoring component configured to translate the anchor proximally-distally through the anchor housing assembly and a cinch component configured to control a space between the pair of anchor housing assemblies.