Abstract: The invention is a method of delivering and deploying a tissue shaping device in a lumen within a patient, with the tissue shaping device including an anchor. In some embodiments the method includes the steps of: inserting a delivery catheter into the lumen; percutaneously delivering the device to a target site within the lumen through a delivery catheter; operating an actuator to expose an anchor; and operating the actuator to lock the anchor. In other, the method includes the steps of: inserting a delivery catheter into the lumen; moving the device from a cartridge into the delivery catheter; delivering the device to a target site within the lumen; operating an actuator to move the delivery catheter with respect to the anchor to expose the anchor; and expanding the anchor.

Abstract: A mitral valve annulus reshaping device includes at least a portion that is formed of a biocompatible shape memory alloy SMA having a characteristic temperature, Af, that is preferably below body temperature. The device is constrained in an unstable martensite (UM) state while being introduced through a catheter that passes through the venous system and into the coronary sinus of the heart. The reshaping device is deployed adjacent to the mitral valve annulus of the heart as it is forced from the catheter. When released from the constraint of the catheter, the SMA of the device at least partially converts from the UM state to an austenitic state and attempts to change to a programmed shape that exerts a force on the adjacent tissue and modifies the shape of the annulus. The strain of the SMA can be varied when the device is within the coronary sinus.

Abstract: An intravascular support device includes a support or reshaper wire, a proximal anchor and a distal anchor. The support wire engages a vessel wall to change the shape of tissue adjacent the vessel in which the intravascular support is placed. The anchors and support wire are designed such that the vessel in which the support is placed remains open and can be accessed by other devices if necessary. The device provides a minimal metal surface area to blood flowing within the vessel to limit the creation of thrombosis. The anchors can be locked in place to secure the support within the vessel.

Abstract: A system for selectively deploying a medical device includes a cartridge that is engageable with a proximal end of a delivery catheter that is routed to a desired location in a patient's body. An advancement mechanism is provided for advancing the medical device out of the cartridge and into the delivery catheter for deploying the medical device at the desired location in the patient's body.

Abstract: An anchor anchors a therapeutic device having an elongated body within a body lumen. The anchor includes a fixation member carried on the device which is adjustable from a first configuration that permits placement of the device in the body lumen to a second configuration that anchors the device within the body lumen. The anchor further includes a lock that locks the fixation member in the second configuration. The fixation member may be locked in any one of a plurality of intermediate points between the first configuration and a maximum second configuration.

Abstract: Systems and methods for cutting, or trimming, a catheter at a specified location along the length of the catheter. The catheter preferably includes a stop feature comprising a difference in a physical characteristic between a first portion of the catheter and a second portion of the catheter which interacts with an elongate member of the cutting system to determine the catheter is in a proper position to be cut.

Abstract: A tissue shaping device adapted to be deployed in a lumen to modify the shape of target tissue adjacent to the lumen. In one embodiment the device includes first and second anchors; a connector disposed between the first and second anchors; and a focal deflector disposed between the first and second anchors and may be adapted to extend away from the lumen axis and toward the target tissue and/or away from the lumen axis and away from the target tissue when the device is deployed in the lumen. The invention is also a method of modifying target tissue shape. The method includes the steps of providing a tissue shaping device comprising proximal and distal anchors, a connector disposed between the proximal and distal anchors, and a focal deflector; placing the tissue shaping device in a lumen adjacent the target tissue; applying a shaping force from the focal deflector against a lumen wall to modify the shape of the target tissue; and expanding the proximal and distal anchors to anchor the device in the lumen.

Abstract: A tissue shaping device adapted to be deployed in a lumen to modify the shape of target tissue adjacent to the lumen. In one embodiment the device includes first and second anchors; a connector disposed between the first and second anchors; and a focal deflector disposed between the first and second anchors and may be adapted to extend away from the lumen axis and toward the target tissue and/or away from the lumen axis and away from the target tissue when the device is deployed in the lumen. The invention is also a method of modifying target tissue shape. The method includes the steps of providing a tissue shaping device comprising proximal and distal anchors, a connector disposed between the proximal and distal anchors, and a focal deflector; placing the tissue shaping device in a lumen adjacent the target tissue; applying a shaping force from the focal deflector against a lumen wall to modify the shape of the target tissue; and expanding the proximal and distal anchors to anchor the device in the lumen.

Abstract: In one embodiment, the present invention relates to a tissue shaping device adapted to be disposed in a vessel near a patient's heart to reshape the patient's heart. Such tissue shaping device can include an expandable proximal anchor; a proximal anchor lock adapted to lock the proximal anchor in an expanded configuration; an expandable distal anchor; a distal anchor lock adapted to lock the distal anchor in an expanded configuration; and a connector disposed between the proximal anchor and the distal anchor, the connector having a substantially non-circular cross-section.

Abstract: An intravascular support device includes a support or reshaper wire, a proximal anchor and a distal anchor. The support wire engages a vessel wall to change the shape of tissue adjacent the vessel in which the intravascular support is placed. The anchors and support wire are designed such that the vessel in which the support is placed remains open and can be accessed by other devices if necessary. The device provides a minimal metal surface area to blood flowing within the vessel to limit the creation of thrombosis. The anchors can be locked in place to secure the support within the vessel.

Abstract: The invention is a tissue shaping system, including a tissue shaping device with an expandable anchor and a lock; a delivery catheter; a delivery mechanism adapted to deliver the tissue shaping device from outside a patient to a target site within a lumen within the patient via the delivery catheter; and an actuator adapted to deliver an actuation force to the lock to lock the anchor in an expanded configuration. The invention is also a system adapted to percutaneously deliver and deploy a tissue shaping device at a target site within a lumen of a patient. The system includes: a handle; a delivery mechanism supported by the handle and adapted to deliver the tissue shaping device from outside the patient to the treatment site via a delivery catheter; and an actuator supported by the handle and adapted to deliver an actuation force to lock an anchor of the tissue shaping device in an expanded configuration.

Abstract: One aspect of the invention is a method of treating mitral valve regurgitation in a patient. The method includes the steps of delivering a tissue shaping device to the patient's coronary sinus in an unexpanded configuration within a catheter having an outer diameter no more than nine or ten french, with the tissue shaping device including a connector disposed between a distal expandable anchor comprising flexible wire and a proximal expandable anchor comprising flexible wire, the device having a length of 60 mm or less; and deploying the device to reduce mitral valve regurgitation, such as by anchoring the distal expandable anchor by placing the distal expandable anchor flexible wire in contact with a wall of the coronary sinus, e.g., by permitting the distal expandable anchor to self-expand or by applying an actuating force to the distal expandable anchor and possibly locking the distal expandable anchor after performing the applying step. The invention also includes a device for performing the method.

Abstract: An assembly and method for effecting the condition of a mitral valve annulus of a heart includes a guide wire configured to be fed into the coronary sinus of the heart, and a mitral valve annulus therapy device configured to be slidingly received on the guide wire and advanced into the coronary sinus of the heart on the guide wire. A guide tube may further be employed for guiding the device into the coronary sinus. An introducer which may be employed for pushing the device into or pulling device out of the heart has a mechanism for releasably locking to the device. This enables substitution of the device if needed. Also, the crossover point of the circumflex artery and coronary sinus may be determined and avoided when the device is deployed.

Abstract: In one embodiment, the present invention relates to a tissue shaping device adapted to be disposed in a vessel near a patient's heart to reshape the patient's heart. Such tissue shaping device can include an expandable proximal anchor; a proximal anchor lock adapted to lock the proximal anchor in an expanded configuration; an expandable distal anchor; a distal anchor lock adapted to lock the distal anchor in an expanded configuration; and a connector disposed between the proximal anchor and the distal anchor, the connector having a substantially non-circular cross-section.

Abstract: An intravascular support device includes a support or reshaper wire, a proximal anchor and a distal anchor. The support wire engages a vessel wall to change the shape of tissue adjacent the vessel in which the intravascular support is placed. The anchors and support wire are designed such that the vessel in which the support is placed remains open and can be accessed by other devices if necessary. The device provides a minimal metal surface area to blood flowing within the vessel to limit the creation of thrombosis. The anchors can be locked in place to secure the support within the vessel.

Abstract: A mitral valve annulus reshaping device includes at least a portion that is formed of a biocompatible shape memory alloy SMA having a characteristic temperature, Af, that is preferably below body temperature. The device is constrained in an unstable martensite (UM) state while being introduced through a catheter that passes through the venous system and into the coronary sinus of the heart. The reshaping device is deployed adjacent to the mitral valve annulus of the heart as it is forced from the catheter. When released from the constraint of the catheter, the SMA of the device at least partially converts from the UM state to an austenitic state and attempts to change to a programmed shape that exerts a force on the adjacent tissue and modifies the shape of the annulus. The strain of the SMA can be varied when the device is within the coronary sinus.

Abstract: A tissue shaping device adapted to be deployed in a vessel to reshape tissue adjacent to the vessel. In some embodiments the device includes first and second anchors and a connector disposed between the first and second anchors, with the connector being integral with at least a portion of the first anchor. The invention is also a method of making a tissue shaping device including the steps of removing material from a blank to form a connector and an integral anchor portion; and attaching a non-integral anchor portion to the integral anchor portion.

Abstract: A tissue shaping device adapted to be deployed in a vessel to reshape tissue adjacent to the vessel. In some embodiments the device includes first and second anchors and a connector disposed between the first and second anchors, with the connector being integral with at least a portion of the first anchor. The invention is also a method of making a tissue shaping device including the steps of removing material from a blank to form a connector and an integral anchor portion; and attaching a non-integral anchor portion to the integral anchor portion.

Abstract: A mitral valve annulus reshaping device includes at least a portion that is formed of a biocompatible shape memory alloy SMA having a characteristic temperature, Af, that is preferably below body temperature. The device is constrained in an unstable martensite (UM) state while being introduced through a catheter that passes through the venous system and into the coronary sinus of the heart. The reshaping device is deployed adjacent to the mitral valve annulus of the heart as it is forced from the catheter. When released from the constraint of the catheter, the SMA of the device at least partially converts from the UM state to an austenitic state and attempts to change to a programmed shape that exerts a force on the adjacent tissue and modifies the shape of the annulus. The strain of the SMA can be varied when the device is within the coronary sinus.

Abstract: Sheet resistance, junction leakage and contact conductivity of a semiconductor layer, associated with an ultra-shallow junction layer or metal film are measured by contacting the surface with a plurality of probes. The probes can be used, in conjunction with a four-point probe system, to determine sheet resistivity. Junction leakage through an ultra-shallow junction is determined by establishing a reverse bias across the junction set at a predetermined voltage value, measuring through a first probe a total junction current conduction value, measuring through second, third, and fourth probes a plurality of voltage values. The junction leakage value is then directly computed based on the sheet resistivity value, reverse bias potential, wafer radius, and the measured voltage values. Contact conductivity between a metal film and semiconductor layer can be similarly directly computed.