Abstract: An occlusion device (210) is provided for occluding a left atrial appendage (LAA), including a compliant balloon (230) defining a fluid-tight balloon chamber (232), and an actuating shaft (234), which is disposed at least partially within the balloon chamber (232) for setting a distance between distal and proximal end portions (236, 238) of the balloon (230). A proximal LAA-orifice cover (70) includes a frame (72) and a covering (74) fixed to the frame (72). An orifice-support stent (290) is fixed to and extends distally from the proximal LAA-orifice cover (70), and is generally cylindrical when in a radially-expanded state. Other embodiments are also described.

Abstract: A leaflet restraint (20) includes a non-blood-occlusive net (30), which is configured to at least partially cover an atrial surface (32) of a single native cardiac leaflet (34) of a native atrioventricular valve (36) of a heart (38). Two or more tissue-penetrating annulus anchors (40) are fixed to an annular side (42) of the net (30), and are configured to be anchored to an annulus (44) of the native atrioventricular valve (36) along or within 1 cm of a portion of the annulus (44) to which the single native cardiac leaflet (34) attaches. A ventricular anchor (50) is configured to be anchored to a ventricle (54) of the heart (58) so as to anchor a ventricular end (52) of the net (30) to the ventricle (54). The leaflet restraint (20) is configured, when anchored in place at least partially covering the atrial surface (32) of the single native cardiac leaflet (34), to limit prolapse of the single native cardiac leaflet (34) into an atrium (56) of the heart (38). Other embodiments are also described.

Abstract: A probe (24) is provided for use with an elongate medical instrument (20). The probe (24) is configured to be advanced through vasculature of a body of a subject, and includes a distal longitudinal probe-portion (26) and one or more loops (30). The one or more loops (30) are disposed along the distal longitudinal probe-portion (26) and are configured to be looped around a distal longitudinal medical-instrument-portion (28) of the elongate medical instrument (20) when the distal longitudinal probe-portion (26) is positioned at least partially alongside a distal longitudinal medical-instrument-portion (28) within the body, thereby mechanically coupling the distal longitudinal probe-portion (26) to the distal longitudinal medical-instrument-portion (28) within the body. The probe (24) is configured to bend the elongate medical instrument (20) within the body when the distal longitudinal probe-portion (26) is mechanically coupled to the distal longitudinal medical-instrument-portion (28).

Abstract: A split-frame cardiac valve (20) is configured to assume a radially compressed configuration for transcatheter delivery and a radially expanded configuration for anchoring to a native cardiac valve annulus. The split-frame cardiac valve (20) includes circumferential frame segments (22) including respective stents (24) and prosthetic leaflets (30). When the split-frame cardiac valve (20) is in the radially expanded configuration: (a) each of the stents (24) surrounds less than 360 degrees of a central longitudinal axis (26) of the split-frame cardiac valve (20), (b) the circumferential frame segments (22) are slidingly coupled to one another so as to be axially slidable with respect to one another in and out of axial alignment with one another, and (c) when the circumferential frame segments (22) are axially aligned with one another, the stents (24) collectively define a tubular stent (32) that entirely surrounds the central longitudinal axis (26).

Abstract: A valve-delivery-assist tool (20, 120, 220, 320) is provided for use during a transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) procedure on a native aortic valve. The valve-delivery-assist tool (20, 120, 220, 320) includes a delivery catheter (22); an aortic-valve cusp guide (24), which deflects laterally upon being released from the delivery catheter (22); and a conduction-tissue protector (26, 126), which includes a sheet (28, 128) and expands upon being released from a distal end (29) of the delivery catheter (22).

Abstract: Coaptation-assist devices (20) are provided for treating a native atrioventricular valve. The coaptation-assist devices (20) include a ventricular anchor (30), which includes one or more wires (35), and which is configured to be positioned in a ventricle; and a neo-leaflet (32), which is supported by the ventricular anchor (30) and is configured to at least partially replace function of a target native leaflet of the native atrioventricular valve by providing a surface of coaptation (34) for one or more opposing native leaflets. In some configurations, the ventricular anchor (30) includes a proximal subannular anchor (54), which includes a digitate anchor (56) that is shaped so as to define a plurality of fingers (60) having a plurality of curved superior peaks (66) that point in a superior direction and engage a subannular surface of the target native leaflet. Other embodiments are also described.

Abstract: A delivery system (10, 110) is provided for delivering and deploying an implantable balloon-based occlusion device (20) including an inflatable balloon (22). The delivery system (10, 110) includes a delivery handle (11), which includes a fluid-retaining chamber (41, 141); a plunger, which is slidingly disposed in the fluid-retaining chamber (41, 141); and a proximal rotatable user-control knob (31). A fluid-conveyance lumen catheter (18) defines a catheter fluid-conveyance lumen (19) in fluid communication with the fluid-retaining chamber (41, 141) and the inflatable balloon (22). A catheter lumen shaft (26) is in reversible connection with the balloon-based occlusion device (20), longitudinally slidable with respect to the delivery handle (11).

Abstract: An occlusion device (210) is provided for occluding a left atrial appendage (LAA), including a compliant balloon (230) defining a fluid-tight balloon chamber (232), and an actuating shaft (234), which is disposed at least partially within the balloon chamber (232) for setting a distance between distal and proximal end portions (236, 238) of the balloon (230). A proximal LAA-orifice cover (70) includes a frame (72) and a covering (74) fixed to the frame (72). An orifice-support stent (290) is fixed to and extends distally from the proximal LAA-orifice cover (70), and is generally cylindrical when in a radially-expanded state. Other embodiments are also described.

Abstract: A leaflet coaptation-assist device (920, 1020, 1120) is provided for promoting valve coaptation of leaflets (22) of an atrioventricular valve, the leaflet coaptation-assist device (920, 1020, 1120) including a coaptation-assist surface (964, 1064, 1164) and one or more tissue anchors, which are configured to anchor the leaflet coaptation-assist device (920, 1020, 1120) in place within the heart, such that the coaptation-assist surface (964, 1064, 1164) is located at or below the leaflet hinge line and contacts an atrial side of the leaflets (22) during ventricular systole, thereby enhancing leaflet coaptation. In some configurations, the one or more tissue anchors include one or more ventricular loops (988, 1088, 1188), which are configured to couple the leaflet coaptation-assist device (920, 1020, 1120) to the ventricular wall by radial force and friction. Other embodiments are also described.

Abstract: A mechanical compressor system is provided for actuating a bag of a bag valve mask. Rotatable track supports are shaped so as to define respective non-circular closed-loop tracks. Each of one or more mechanical compressors includes two pins that protrude from two sides of the mechanical compressor and engage one of the closed-loop tracks. The mechanical compressors are slidingly coupled to one or more vertical sliders configured to limit the movement of the mechanical compressors to a vertical translational pattern. A bag-coupler is configured to couple the bag to the mechanical compressor system in contact with the mechanical compressors. A motor or a manual crank is arranged to rotate the rotatable track supports, such that the pins move along the closed-loop tracks, causing vertical motion of the mechanical compressors along the one or more vertical sliders, which controls a volume of the bag. Other embodiments are also described.