Abstract: A method and device are provided for non-blood contact mechanically assisting an injured (e.g., infarcted) ventricle by coupling an inflatable bladder or other volume adjustable device to the injured ventricle and selectively inflating the bladder or increasing the size of the volume in systole to apply force against the injured ventricle and deflating the bladder or reducing the size of the volume in diastole to remove force against the injured ventricle. When no mechanical assistance is being provided to the injured ventricle, the inflatable bladder or volume adjustable device is preferably maintained at a predetermined pressure so as to selectively stiffen the injured tissue and alter ventricular geometry a desired amount.

Abstract: A method is provided for measuring or estimating stress distributions on heart valve leaflets by obtaining three-dimensional images of the heart valve leaflets, segmenting the heart valve leaflets in the three-dimensional images by capturing locally varying thicknesses of the heart valve leaflets in three-dimensional image data to generate an image-derived patient-specific model of the heart valve leaflets, and applying the image-derived patient-specific model of the heart valve leaflets to a finite element analysis (FEA) algorithm to estimate stresses on the heart valve leaflets. The images of the heart valve leaflets may be obtained using real-time 3D transesophageal echocardiography (rt-3DTEE). Volumetric images of the mitral valve at mid-systole may be analyzed by user-initialized segmentation and 3D deformable modeling with continuous medial representation to obtain, a compact representation of shape.

Abstract: An annuloplasty ring comprising an elongated curved member defining a ring-shape having an at rest size and shape to fit against the annulus of the mitral valve in a heart, the member having a substantial saddle shape wherein the annular height to width ratio is in the range of 5% to 50%.

Abstract: A mitral valve prosthesis is percutaneously and/or transapically deployed in at least two stages. In a first stage, a mitral annular ring platform adapted for percutaneous delivery is delivered to and anchored in the mitral valve annulus. In the second stage, a valved-stent mitral valve prosthetic device adapted for percutaneously delivery is delivered to the mitral valve annulus for mounting in the mitral annular ring platform. This approach provides a consistent platform for accepting valved-stent mitral valve prosthetic devices from different vendors to be used.

Abstract: Disclosed are systems, methods, and devices for percutaneous retrieval of objects, such as endovascular devices, from an internal body space. The present inventions have vascular, non-vascular (gastrointestinal), and surgical (laproscopic) applications. The inventions include a retrieval end having one or more compressed states and an expanded state, the retrieval end adopting the expanded state when the retrieval end is deployed into a subject's internal body space, the retrieval end having a mouth through which an object can be passed into an interior space within the retrieval end when the retrieval end is in the expanded state, the mouth being adjustable between an opened state and a closed state; wherein when at least a portion of the retrieval end of the inner sheath is transitioned to a compressed state following capture of the object, the retrieval end exerts an inward force that at least partially collapses or compresses the object.

Abstract: A mitral valve prosthesis is percutaneously and/or transapically deployed in at least two stages. In a first stage, a mitral annular ring platform adapted for percutaneous delivery is delivered to and anchored in the mitral valve annulus. In the second stage, a valved-stent mitral valve prosthetic device adapted for percutaneously delivery is delivered to the mitral valve annulus for mounting in the mitral annular ring platform. This approach provides a consistent platform for accepting valved-stent mitral valve prosthetic devices from different vendors to be used.

Abstract: Disclosed are systems, methods, and devices for percutaneous retrieval of objects, such as endovascular devices, from an internal body space. The present inventions have vascular, non-vascular (gastrointestinal), and surgical (laproscopic) applications. The inventions include a retrieval end having one or more compressed states and an expanded state, the retrieval end adopting the expanded state when the retrieval end is deployed into a subject's internal body space, the retrieval end having a mouth through which an object can be passed into an interior space within the retrieval end when the retrieval end is in the expanded state, the mouth being adjustable between an opened state and a closed state; wherein when at least a portion of the retrieval end of the inner sheath is transitioned to a compressed state following capture of the object, the retrieval end exerts an inward force that at least partially collapses or compresses the object.

Abstract: Disclosed are systems, methods, and devices for percutaneous retrieval of objects, such as endovascular devices, from a subject's internal body space. The present inventions have vascular, non-vascular (gastrointestinal), and surgical (laproscopic) applications. The inventions include the use of a retrieval end having one or more compressed states and an expanded state, the retrieval end adopting the expanded state when the retrieval end is deployed into a subject's internal body space, the retrieval end having a mouth through which an object can be passed into an interior space within the retrieval end when the retrieval end is in the expanded state, the mouth being adjustable between an opened state and a closed state so that the object can be enclosed within the interior space after passing through the mouth of the retrieval end.

Abstract: Disclosed are annuloplasty rings having defined relationships between the intercommisural width and ratio of septo-lateral width to intercommisural width. The saddle-shaped annuloplasty rings may have a ratio of SLW to ICW of x±(0.07×x) when the ring has an intercommisural width of y, as determined according to the formula x=(y?124)/?100.

Abstract: The invention relates to compositions comprising (i) biocompatible hydrogel and (ii) one or more therapeutic agents contained within said hydrogel; wherein the hydrogel is cross-linked utilizing a cross-linker comprising a peptide sequence that is capable of being degraded by an enzyme; the therapeutic agent being effective as a treatment of a condition related to the presence of the enzyme.

Abstract: The invention relates to compositions comprising (i) biocompatible hydrogel and (ii) one or more therapeutic agents contained within said hydrogel; wherein the hydrogel is cross-linked utilizing a cross-linker comprising a peptide sequence that is capable of being degraded by an enzyme; the therapeutic agent being effective as a treatment of a condition related to the presence of the enzyme.

Abstract: The invention relates to compositions comprising (i) biocompatible hydrogel and (ii) one or more therapeutic agents contained within said hydrogel; wherein the hydrogel is cross-linked utilizing a cross-linker comprising a peptide sequence that is capable of being degraded by an enzyme; the therapeutic agent being effective as a treatment of a condition related to the presence of the enzyme.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to valve replacement devices that are foldable for catheter-based deployment to the site of implantation, as well as systems for the delivery of valve prostheses, including prostheses having the special characteristics of the disclosed valve replacement devices. The devices include highly effective adhering mechanisms for secure and enduring precision implantation. The adhering mechanisms may employ a unique sealing mechanism that includes a cuff that expands slowly whereby the device is not secured in place until the completion of the implantation procedure. The implanted device, optionally together with the cuff, prevents perivalvular leaks and incorporate an appropriate leaflet system for reliable functioning in situ.

Abstract: Disclosed are systems, methods, and devices for percutaneous retrieval of objects, such as endovascular devices, from an internal body space. The present inventions have vascular, non-vascular (gastrointestinal), and surgical (laproscopic) applications. The inventions include a retrieval end having one or more compressed states and an expanded state, the retrieval end adopting the expanded state when the retrieval end is deployed into a subject's internal body space, the retrieval end having a mouth through which an object can be passed into an interior space within the retrieval end when the retrieval end is in the expanded state, the mouth being adjustable between an opened state and a closed state; wherein when at least a portion of the retrieval end of the inner sheath is transitioned to a compressed state following capture of the object, the retrieval end exerts an inward force that at least partially collapses or compresses the object.

Abstract: Provided are methods of treating cardiac infarction by using an injectable material to influence cardiac structure and remodeling after infarction. Also provided are kits that comprise an injectable material to influence cardiac structure.

Abstract: Provided are methods and kits for safe and effective therapy that can be administered early after a heart attack in order to prevent progressive heart dilatation and resultant loss of function. The therapy includes the administration of particulate compositions to a region comprising an infarct or a portion thereof.

Abstract: A fully automatic method for segmentation of the mitral leaflets in 3D transesophageal echocardiographic (3D TEE) images is provided. The method combines complementary probabilistic segmentation and geometric modeling techniques to generate 3D patient-specific reconstructions of the mitral leaflets and annulus from 3D TEE image data with no user interaction. In the model-based segmentation framework, mitral leaflet geometry is described with 3D continuous medial representation (cm-rep). To capture leaflet geometry in a target 3D TEE image, a pre-defined cm-rep template of the mitral leaflets is deformed such that the negative log of a Bayesian posterior probability is minimized. The likelihood of the objective function is given by a probabilistic segmentation of the mitral leaflets generated by multi-atlas joint label fusion, while the validity constraints and regularization terms imposed by cm-rep act as shape priors that preserve leaflet topology and constrain model fitting.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to valve replacement devices that are foldable for catheter-based deployment to the site of implantation, as well as systems for the delivery of valve prostheses, including prostheses having the special characteristics of the disclosed valve replacement devices. The devices include highly effective adhering mechanisms for secure and enduring precision implantation. The adhering mechanisms may employ a unique sealing mechanism that includes a cuff that expands slowly whereby the device is not secured in place until the completion of the implantation procedure. The implanted device, optionally together with the cuff, prevents perivalvular leaks and incorporate an appropriate leaflet system for reliable functioning in situ.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to valve replacement devices that are foldable for catheter-based deployment to the site of implantation, as well as systems for the delivery of valve prostheses, including prostheses having the special characteristics of the disclosed valve replacement devices. The devices include highly effective adhering mechanisms for secure and enduring precision implantation. The adhering mechanisms may employ a unique sealing mechanism that includes a cuff that expands slowly whereby the device is not secured in place until the completion of the implantation procedure. The implanted device, optionally together with the cuff, prevents perivalvular leaks and incorporate an appropriate leaflet system for reliable functioning in situ.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to valve replacement devices that are foldable for catheter-based deployment to the site of implantation, as well as systems for the delivery of valve prostheses, including prostheses having the special characteristics of the disclosed valve replacement devices. The devices include highly effective adhering mechanisms for secure and enduring precision implantation. The adhering mechanisms may employ a unique sealing mechanism that includes a cuff that expands slowly whereby the device is not secured in place until the completion of the implantation procedure. The implanted device, optionally together with the cuff, prevents perivalvular leaks and incorporate an appropriate leaflet system for reliable functioning in situ.