Abstract: A heart valve implant according to one embodiment may include a shaft and an anchor disposed on one end of the shaft, the anchor configured to engage tissue. The heart valve implant may further include an expandable member disposed over at least part of the shaft, the expandable member comprising a resiliently deformable internal layer and a resiliently deformable external layer disposed over the internal layer, the expandable member defining a chamber and being configured to receive an inflation medium in the chamber to expand the expandable member, the expandable member further configured to deform upon contact with at least a portion of at least one leaflet of a heart valve to at least partially conform to the shape of the leaflet.

Abstract: An implant delivery system comprising a catheter including at least one lumen, an implant configured for receipt in the lumen, and a latching mechanism configured for receipt in the implant. The latching mechanism may be configured to releasably couple the implant to a delivery wire and to transmit torque through the delivery wire to cause at least a portion of the implant to rotate. The an implant may comprise a shaft, a spacer configured to interact with at least a portion of at least one cusp of a heart valve to at least partially restrict a flow of blood through the heart valve in a closed position, a garage configured to couple the spacer to a first end region of the shaft, and at least one anchor mechanism. The garage may define a cavity to receive the latching mechanism and to increase rotational and translational stability of the latching mechanism.

Abstract: A heart valve implant may include a shaft and an anchor configured to be coupled to an end of the shaft. A spacer may be coupled to a portion of the shaft and comprise a plurality of individual segments including a first and at least a second individual segment. The first segment may be coupled to the shaft. The second segment may be coupled to at least a portion of an exterior surface of the first segment and may have at least one cross-section dimension which is greater than an internal cross-sectional dimension of a delivery lumen. Additional segments may be coupled to an inner, adjacent segment. The segments may include a collapsible body portion to facilitate percutaneously delivery through a lumen. The segments may define an outer surface of the spacer configured to interact with at least a portion of at least one cusp of a heart valve to at least partially restrict a flow of blood through the heart valve in a closed position.

Abstract: A heart valve implant according to one embodiment may include a shaft extending generally along a longitudinal axis of the heart valve implant having at least one anchor configured to be coupled to a first end of the shaft. A spacer may include a plurality of individual segments each including at least one passageway configured to be disposed about the shaft. The plurality of individual segments may define an outer surface of the spacer which is configured to interact with at least a portion of at least one cusp of a heart valve to at least partially restrict a flow of blood through the heart valve in a closed position. The plurality of individual segments may each having a length and at least one cross-section dimension no larger than an internal cross-section of a lumen of a delivery catheter.

Abstract: A heart valve implant according to one embodiment may include a shaft and an anchor disposed on one end of the shaft, the anchor configured to engage tissue. The heart valve implant may further include an expandable member disposed over at least part of the shaft, the expandable member comprising a resiliently deformable internal layer and a resiliently deformable external layer disposed over the internal layer, the expandable member defining a chamber and being configured to receive an inflation medium in the chamber to expand the expandable member, the expandable member further configured to deform upon contact with at least a portion of at least one leaflet of a heart valve to at least partially conform to the shape of the leaflet.

Abstract: A heart valve implant according to one embodiment may include a shaft and an anchor disposed on one end of the shaft, the anchor configured to engage tissue. The heart valve implant may further include an expandable member disposed over at least part of the shaft, the expandable member comprising a resiliently deformable internal layer and a resiliently deformable external layer disposed over the internal layer, the expandable member defining a chamber and being configured to receive an inflation medium in the chamber to expand the expandable member, the expandable member further configured to deform upon contact with at least a portion of at least one leaflet of a heart valve to at least partially conform to the shape of the leaflet.

Abstract: An implant delivery system comprising a catheter including at least one lumen, an implant configured for receipt in the lumen, and a latching mechanism configured for receipt in the implant. The latching mechanism may be configured to releasably couple the implant to a delivery wire and to transmit torque through the delivery wire to cause at least a portion of the implant to rotate. The an implant may comprise a shaft, a spacer configured to interact with at least a portion of at least one cusp of a heart valve to at least partially restrict a flow of blood through the heart valve in a closed position, a garage configured to couple the spacer to a first end region of the shaft, and at least one anchor mechanism. The garage may define a cavity to receive the latching mechanism and to increase rotational and translational stability of the latching mechanism.

Abstract: An implant delivery system comprising a catheter including at least one lumen, an implant configured to be received in the lumen, and a latching mechanism configured to be received in the implant. The latching mechanism may be configured to releasably couple the implant to a delivery wire and to transmit a torque through the delivery wire to cause at least a portion of the implant to rotate. The an implant may comprise a shaft, a spacer configured to interact with at least a portion of at least one cusp of a heart valve to at least partially restrict a flow of blood through the heart valve in a closed position, a garage configured to couple the spacer to a first end region of the shaft, and at least one anchor mechanism. The garage may define a cavity configured to receive the latching mechanism and to increase rotational and translational stability of the latching mechanism.

Abstract: A method according to one embodiment may include providing a heart valve implant including an anchor capable of engaging coronary tissue, a shaft coupled to said anchor, and a valve body coupled to said shaft. The method may further include at least partially collapsing the heart valve implant and percutaneously inserting the heart valve implant into a heart. The percutaneously inserted implant may be secured within the heart and may then be expanded. Of course, many alternatives, variations, and modifications are possible without departing from this embodiment.

Abstract: A method according to one embodiment may include providing a heart valve implant including an anchor capable of engaging coronary tissue, a shaft coupled to said anchor, and a valve body coupled to said shaft. The method may further include at least partially collapsing the heart valve implant and percutaneously inserting the heart valve implant into a heart. The percutaneously inserted implant may be secured within the heart and may then be expanded. Of course, many alternatives, variations, and modifications are possible without departing from this embodiment.

Abstract: A heart valve implant may include a shaft and an anchor configured to be coupled to an end of the shaft. A spacer may be coupled to a portion of the shaft and comprise a plurality of individual segments including a first and at least a second individual segment. The first segment may be coupled to the shaft. The second segment may be coupled to at least a portion of an exterior surface of the first segment and may have at least one cross-section dimension which is greater than an internal cross-sectional dimension of a delivery lumen. Additional segments may be coupled to an inner, adjacent segment. The segments may include a collapsible body portion to facilitate percutaneously delivery through a lumen. The segments may define an outer surface of the spacer configured to interact with at least a portion of at least one cusp of a heart valve to at least partially restrict a flow of blood through the heart valve in a closed position.

Abstract: A catheter according to one embodiment may be configured to extend through a transseptal puncture site, a left atrium, and into a left ventricle. The catheter may comprise a shaft defining at least one lumen configured to receive at least one of an implant and/or a dilator, a first steerable actuator coupled to the shaft at a position on the shaft substantially corresponding to the annulus of the mitral valve when the distal end of the shaft is disposed within the left ventricle, and a handle assembly coupled to a proximal end of the shaft. The handle assembly may comprise a first actuator coupled to the first steerable actuator. The first actuator may be configured to apply a force to the first steerable actuator to deflect the shaft about a region proximate to the first steerable actuator.

Abstract: An implant delivery system comprising a catheter including at least one lumen, an implant configured to be received in the lumen, and a latching mechanism configured to be received in the implant. The latching mechanism may be configured to releasably couple the implant to a delivery wire and to transmit a torque through the delivery wire to cause at least a portion of the implant to rotate. The an implant may comprise a shaft, a spacer configured to interact with at least a portion of at least one cusp of a heart valve to at least partially restrict a flow of blood through the heart valve in a closed position, a garage configured to couple the spacer to a first end region of the shaft, and at least one anchor mechanism. The garage may define a cavity configured to receive the latching mechanism and to increase rotational and translational stability of the latching mechanism.

Abstract: An implant delivery system may comprise a catheter including at least one lumen, a guide wire configured to be received in the lumen, and an implant. The guide wire may comprise a clamping mechanism disposed about a distal end of the guide wire. The clamping mechanism may include a first and at least a second jaw wherein at least one of the jaws is configured to pivot between a closed position wherein the jaws define at least one internal cavity between the jaws configured to receive at least a portion of the implant and an open position configured to release the implant. The implant may be configured to be received in the lumen and may comprise a driver configured to be releasably received in the cavity of the clamping mechanism.

Abstract: A regurgitation implant may comprise a conduit or straw which may be coupled to a shaft. The shaft may be coupled to at least one anchor portion configured to couple the regurgitation implant to native coronary tissue. At least a portion of the conduit may be configured to be disposed proximate a mitral valve such that the regurgitation implant may interact and/or cooperate with at least a portion of the native mitral valve to induce a controlled amount of regurgitation through the conduit and therefore through the mitral valve. The regurgitation through the conduit and the mitral valve may cause the heart to dilute in a manner that is generally consistent with advanced disease of the heart. The amount of regurgitation may therefore be adjusted depending on the desired condition of the heart.

Abstract: A method and system according to one embodiment may include a plurality of apparatus configured to percutaneously deliver a heart valve implant. The method and system may include an implant comprising an anchor configured to engage cardiac tissue, a shaft coupled to the anchor, and a valve body coupled to the shaft. The method and system may further include at least partially collapsing the heart valve implant and percutaneously inserting the heart valve implant into a heart. The percutaneously inserted implant may be secured within the heart and may then be expanded.

Abstract: A heart valve implant may include a shaft and an anchor configured to be coupled to an end of the shaft. A spacer may be coupled to a portion of the shaft and comprise a plurality of individual segments including a first and at least a second individual segment. The first segment may be coupled to the shaft. The second segment may be coupled to at least a portion of an exterior surface of the first segment and may have at least one cross-section dimension which is greater than an internal cross-sectional dimension of a delivery lumen. Additional segments may be coupled to an inner, adjacent segment. The segments may include a collapsible body portion to facilitate percutaneously delivery through a lumen. The segments may define an outer surface of the spacer configured to interact with at least a portion of at least one cusp of a heart valve to at least partially restrict a flow of blood through the heart valve in a closed position.