Abstract: A compliance restoration device includes a compliance balloon lumen, a chamber support structure disposed in the compliance balloon lumen and configured to expand to support an expanded volume of the compliance balloon lumen, and a spring assembly configured to cause the chamber support structure to expand by applying a force on a first end of the chamber support structure.

Abstract: A prosthesis can be configured to grasp intralumenal tissue when deployed within a body cavity and prevent axial flow of fluid around an exterior of the prosthesis. The prosthesis can include an expandable frame configured to radially expand and contract for deployment within the body cavity and a valve body. The expandable frame can include a frame body and a supplemental frame. The valve body can include a plurality of leaflets and one or more intermediate components. The one or more intermediate components can couple at least a portion of the leaflets to the expandable frame. The prosthesis can include an annular flap positioned around an exterior of the expandable frame.

Abstract: A system for repairing a native heart valve can comprise a first fastener, a second faster, a first leaflet brace, and a second leaflet brace. The first leaflet brace can be configured to extend partially around a first native leaflet. The second leaflet brace can be configured to extend partially around a second native leaflet. The first fastener can be configured to be deployed on respective first end portions of the first and second braces so as to connect the first end portions to each other. The second fastener can be configured to be deployed on respective second end portions of the first and second braces so as to connect the second end portions to each other. When the first end portions are connected to each other and the second end portions are connected to each other, the first and second leaflet braces encircle the first and second native leaflets.

Abstract: A two-stage or component-based valve prosthesis that can be quickly and easily implanted during a surgical procedure is provided. The prosthetic valve comprises a support structure that is deployed at a treatment site. The prosthetic valve further comprises a valve member configured to be quickly connected to the support structure. The support structure may take the form of a stent that is expanded at the site of a native valve. If desired, the native leaflets may remain and the stent may be used to hold the native valve open. In this case, the stent may be balloon expandable and configured to resist the powerful recoil force of the native leaflets. The support structure is provided with a coupling means for attachment to the valve member, thereby fixing the position of the valve member in the body. The valve member may be a non-expandable type, or may be expandable from a compressed state to an expanded state.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatuses for treating a heart are provided. Methods can include obtaining and using an implant. One or more catheters can be used to properly position and attach the implant in a desired location in a chamber of the heart, for example, on a ventricular wall of the left ventricle between one or more papillary muscles of the left ventricle and the annulus. Then a distance along the implant or a region of the heart, for example, between the papillary muscle and the annulus, can be reduced by contracting the implant along its longitudinal axis by applying tension to a contraction member of the implant. Other embodiments are described.

Abstract: The invention is a device, system, and method for providing an initial assessment of potential heart valve disease and recommending and/or providing follow-up assessments for heart valve disease. The invention includes a simple ECHO device which uses ultrasonic signals to detect and determine maximum blood flow velocities, and compares the maximum blood flow velocities to set thresholds to determine if it is appropriate for the patient to be subjected to additional and more detailed assessments for heart valve disease.

Abstract: The invention is a device, system, and method for monitoring function of heart valves. The invention includes a disposable patch having simple transducers and simple processing for monitoring heart valve performance via echo Doppler and processing the data to determine blood flow velocities and/or blood flow gradients.

Abstract: An implant having an implant body, a gripper, an elastic pouch, and an elongate member. The pouch can be coupled to the gripper, can have a first part and a second part, can have a contracted state toward which the pouch is elastically biased, and can be reversibly stretchable into a stretched state. The elongate member can have a first end portion coupled to the implant body, a second end portion fastened to the second part of the pouch, and a mid-portion extending (i) from the second end portion, through the pouch to the first part of the pouch, and (ii) out of the pouch to the first end portion. In at least one state of the gripper, the mid-portion can be slidable through the gripper and into the pouch. Other embodiments are also described.

Abstract: A two-stage or component-based valve prosthesis that can be quickly and easily implanted during a surgical procedure is provided. The prosthetic valve comprises a support structure that is deployed at a treatment site. The prosthetic valve further comprises a valve member configured to be quickly connected to the support structure. The support structure may take the form of a stent that is expanded at the site of a native valve. If desired, the native leaflets may remain and the stent may be used to hold the native valve open. In this case, the stent may be balloon expandable and configured to resist the powerful recoil force of the native leaflets. The support structure is provided with a coupling means for attachment to the valve member, thereby fixing the position of the valve member in the body. The valve member may be a non-expandable type, or may be expandable from a compressed state to an expanded state.

Abstract: A low profile transseptal catheter and implant system is disclosed. Access to the mitral valve can be obtained using femoral catheterization with a fluoroscopically guided, low-profile catheter. For example, the right atrium is accessed and the interatrial septum punctured to access the left atrium, and the mitral valve is approached through the left atrium. Advantageously, this approach avoids contact with the left ventricular outflow tract and the chordae tendinae. Two leaflet braces are extended over guide wires to form semicircular loops that circumnavigate the anterior and posterior mitral valve leaflets. Tension is applied to the catheter from the atrial direction to keep the leaflet braces tightly wedged under the leaflets for the remainder of the procedure. A fastener joins the ends of each loop to create one annular ring encircling the valve under the anterior and posterior leaflets.

Abstract: A two-stage or component-based valve prosthesis that can be quickly and easily implanted during a surgical procedure is provided. The prosthetic valve comprises a support structure that is deployed at a treatment site. The prosthetic valve further comprises a valve member configured to be quickly connected to the support structure. The support structure may take the form of a stent that is expanded at the site of a native valve. If desired, the native leaflets may remain and the stent may be used to hold the native valve open. In this case, the stent may be balloon expandable and configured to resist the powerful recoil force of the native leaflets. The support structure is provided with a coupling means for attachment to the valve member, thereby fixing the position of the valve member in the body. The valve member may be a non-expandable type, or may be expandable from a compressed state to an expanded state.

Abstract: An active annuloplasty ring holder having a template that can be folded or pivoted to the side allowing the template to align longitudinally with the handle and enter the patient's chest through a small incision. The holder may include a mechanism to remotely detach sutures fastening the ring to the holder, thereby detaching the ring while avoiding the risk associated with introducing a scalpel into the operating field. A detachment mechanism may include a movable pin actuated by a pull wire that releases a plurality of holding sutures, or a hot wire, knives, or pull wire that severs the sutures. The holder may have a built-in light source for better visualization of the ring inside the heart. The holder may also have an optical means of visualizing the inside of the heart from the proximal end of the handle.

Abstract: A prosthetic mitral valve assembly includes a valve component formed with a radially expandable frame and a valve structure supported inside of the frame. In one embodiment, the prosthetic mitral valve assembly further includes an expandable anchor having an annular base. A plurality of cantilevered fixation members extend from the base of the expandable anchor. The fixation members of the expandable anchor are adapted to rotate relative to a longitudinal axis as the valve component is radially expanded within the base of the expandable anchor. As the fixation members rotate, native mitral valve leaflets are securely captured between the fixation members of the anchor and the valve component.

Abstract: A two-stage or component-based valve prosthesis that can be quickly and easily implanted during a surgical procedure is provided. The prosthetic valve comprises a support structure that is deployed at a treatment site. The prosthetic valve further comprises a valve member configured to be quickly connected to the support structure. The support structure may take the form of a stent that is expanded at the site of a native valve. If desired, the native leaflets may remain and the stent may be used to hold the native valve open. In this case, the stent may be balloon expandable and configured to resist the powerful recoil force of the native leaflets. The support structure is provided with a coupling means for attachment to the valve member, thereby fixing the position of the valve member in the body. The valve member may be a non-expandable type, or may be expandable from a compressed state to an expanded state.

Abstract: An active annuloplasty ring holder having a template that can be folded or pivoted to the side allowing the template to align longitudinally with the handle and enter the patient's chest through a small incision. The holder may include a mechanism to remotely detach sutures fastening the ring to the holder, thereby detaching the ring while avoiding the risk associated with introducing a scalpel into the operating field. A detachment mechanism may include a movable pin actuated by a pull wire that releases a plurality of holding sutures, or a hot wire, knives, or pull wire that severs the sutures. The holder may have a built-in light source for better visualization of the ring inside the heart. The holder may also have an optical means of visualizing the inside of the heart from the proximal end of the handle.

Abstract: In one representative embodiment, a prosthetic valve assembly comprises a valve component comprising a radially compressible and expandable frame and a valve structure supported inside of the frame. The valve structure is configured to allow blood to flow through the valve component in one direction and block the flow of blood in the opposite direction. The assembly further comprises a radially compressible and expandable anchor comprising an annular base and a plurality of cantilevered fixation members extending from the base. The fixation members are configured to pivot inwardly toward the valve component when the valve component is radially expanded within the anchor.

Abstract: In one representative embodiment, a prosthetic valve assembly comprises a valve component comprising a radially compressible and expandable frame and a valve structure supported inside of the frame. The valve structure is configured to allow blood to flow through the valve component in one direction and block the flow of blood in the opposite direction. The assembly further comprises a radially compressible and expandable anchor comprising an annular base and a plurality of cantilevered fixation members extending from the base. The fixation members are configured to pivot inwardly toward the valve component when the valve component is radially expanded within the anchor.

Abstract: A prosthesis can be configured to grasp intralumenal tissue when deployed within a body cavity and prevent axial flow of fluid around an exterior of the prosthesis. The prosthesis can include an expandable frame configured to radially expand and contract for deployment within the body cavity and a valve body. The expandable frame can include a frame body and a supplemental frame. The valve body can include a plurality of leaflets and one or more intermediate components. The one or more intermediate components can couple at least a portion of the leaflets to the expandable frame. The prosthesis can include an annular flap positioned around an exterior of the expandable frame.

Abstract: Methods and devices for the treatment of cardiac valve dysfunction through the placement of lines and anchors. The lines and anchors can form artificial chordae between valve leaflets and the ventricular wall or papillary muscles or connect the two valve leaflets together. The methods and devices offer a mechanism for performing this technique with the heart still beating, and allows for the placement of multiple lines with a single device.

Abstract: Sensor-integrated prosthetic valves that can comprise a variety of features, including a plurality of valve leaflets, a frame assembly configured to support the plurality of valve leaflets and define a plurality of commissure supports terminating at an outflow end of the prosthetic valve, a sensor device associated with the frame assembly and configured to generate a sensor signal, for example, a sensor signal indicating deflection of one or more of the plurality of commissure supports, and a transmitter assembly configured to receive the sensor signal from the sensor device and wirelessly transmit a transmission signal that is based at least in part on the sensor signal.