Abstract: An exemplary valve repair system for repairing a native valve of a patient during a non-open-heart procedure includes a delivery device and a valve repair device. The delivery device includes a catheter, an actuation shaft, and a coupler. The valve repair device is configured to be delivered through the catheter. The valve repair device is configured to attach to a native valve of a patient. The valve repair device includes a coaption element having a first end portion and a second end portion, a proximal collar attached to the first end portion of the coaption element, first and second paddles connected to the coaption element, and a distal collar connected to the first and second paddles. The coupler is releasably connected to the proximal collar. The actuation shaft extends through the coupler, the proximal collar, and the coaption element. The actuation shaft is releasably connected to the distal collar.

Abstract: An exemplary valve repair device for repairing a native valve of a patient has a paddle frame, an inner paddle, and an outer paddle. The outer paddle is connected to the inner paddle. The inner and outer paddles are connected to the paddle frame at a connection between the inner paddle and the outer paddle. A portion of the inner paddle is moveable away from a portion of the outer paddle to open the inner and outer paddles.

Abstract: In an exemplary method of implanting a valve repair device on a mitral valve of a patient, first and second clasps of the valve repair device are closed to grasp the leaflets of the mitral valve. First and second paddles of the valve repair device are closed to bring the leaflets of the mitral valve into contact with a coaption element.

Abstract: An exemplary valve repair device for repairing a native valve of a patient includes a coaption element and a pair of paddles. The coaption element and/or the pair of paddles can be made from a fabric, such as a braided metal fabric. The pair of paddles are connected to the coaption element. The paddles are movable between an open position and a closed position. The valve repair device is configured to attach to the native valve of the patient.

Abstract: An exemplary implantable prosthetic device has a coaption element and a pair of paddles. The coaption element has a first end portion and a second end portion. The pair of paddles is connected to the second end portion of the coaption element. The coaption element narrows as the copation element extends from the first end portion to the second end portion. The paddles are movable between an open position and a closed position. The paddles are configured to attach to the native valve of the patient.

Abstract: An exemplary implantable prosthetic device has a paddle frame, an inner paddle, and an outer paddle. The outer paddle is connected to the inner paddle. The inner and outer paddles are connected to the paddle frame at a connection between the inner paddle and the outer paddle. The paddle frame can be positioned inside the inner paddle, outside the outer paddle, or between the inner and outer paddles.

Abstract: A system for implanting a repair device onto a native valve of a natural heart to repairing the native valve of a patient during a non-open-heart procedure. The system includes a surgical delivery instrument, a valve repair device, and a gripper control mechanism. The surgical delivery instrument has at least one lumen. The valve repair device is configured to be delivered through the lumen of the surgical delivery instrument and to be attached to a native valve of a patient. The valve repair device has a pair of paddles, and first and second gripping members. The paddles are movable between an open position and a closed position. The paddles and the first and second gripping members are configured to attach to the native valve of the patient. The gripper control mechanisms each include a suture and a wire having a loop at a distal end. The suture extends from the surgical delivery instrument and through the loop of the wire. The suture is removably attached to the gripping member.

Abstract: A system for implanting a repair device onto a native valve of a natural heart to repair the native valve of a patient during a non-open-heart procedure. The system includes a surgical delivery instrument and a valve repair device. The surgical delivery instrument has at least one lumen. The valve repair device is configured to be delivered through the lumen of the surgical delivery instrument and to be attached to a native valve of a patient. The valve repair device includes a pair of paddles and a pair of gripping members. The paddles are movable between an open position and a closed position, and the paddles are configured to flex upon being attached to the native valve of a patient. The paddles and the gripping members are configured to attach to the native valve of the patient.

Abstract: A system for implanting a repair device onto a native valve of a natural heart to repair the native valve of a patient during a non-open-heart procedure. The system includes a surgical delivery instrument, a valve repair device, and a paddle control mechanism. The surgical delivery instrument has at least one lumen. The valve repair device is configured to be delivered through the lumen of the surgical delivery instrument and to attach to a native valve of a patient. The valve repair device includes a first paddle, a second paddle, and a pair of gripping members. The first and second paddles are movable between an open position and a closed position. The paddles and the gripping members are configured to attach to the native valve of the patient. The paddle control mechanism is configured to move the first and second paddles independently of each other.

Abstract: An implantable prosthetic device can include a spacer member, a plurality of anchors, and a plurality of clasps. The spacer member can be configured to be disposed between native leaflets of a heart. The anchors can be coupled to the spacer member and configured to secure the native leaflets against the spacer member. The clasps can be coupled to a respective anchor and configured to secure the native leaflets to the anchors. The clasps can be independently movable between an open configuration and a closed configuration.

Abstract: A system for implanting a repair device onto a native valve of a natural heart to repairing the native valve of a patient during a non-open-heart procedure. The system includes a pair of paddles and a pair of gripping members. The paddles are moveable between an open position and a closed position. The gripping members can have different configurations for effective attachment and release from the native valve of the patient.

Abstract: A system for implanting a repair device onto a native valve of a natural heart to repairing the native valve of a patient during a non-open-heart procedure. The system includes a pair of paddles and a pair of gripping members. The paddles are movable between an open position and a closed position. Each of the gripping members has a barbed portion for securing the gripping members to the native valve of a patient. Each gripping member is slidably attached to a corresponding paddle. Each gripping member can be moved in a first direction along the paddle before the barbed portion of the gripping member pierces the native valve of the patient. Each gripping member can be moved in a direction substantially opposite the first direction after the barbed portion pierces the native valve of the patient such that the gripping members create a tensioning force on the native valve of the patient.

Abstract: A system for implanting a repair device onto a native valve of a natural heart to repairing the native valve of a patient during a non-open-heart procedure. The system includes a paddle and a gripping member. The paddle is movable between an open position and a closed position. The gripping member has a weakened portion and a barbed portion. The barbed portion is configured to secure the gripping member to valve tissue of the native valve of the patient. A gripper control mechanism is configured to move the gripping member between an open position and a closed position. The gripper control mechanism comprises a suture removably attached to the gripping member at a first connection point and a pushing member configured to engage the gripping member at a second connection point. The weakened portion is between the first and second connection points.

Abstract: A system for implanting a repair device onto a native valve of a natural heart to repair the native valve of a patient during a non-open-heart procedure. The system includes a base assembly having a plurality of pivoting links, a pair of paddles attached to the base assembly, a pair of gripping members attached to the base assembly, and at least one coaptation or spacer element disposed between the pair of gripping members. Movement of the pivoting links of the base assembly causes the paddles to move between an open position and a closed position. The paddles and the gripping members are configured to attach to valve leaflets of the patient. The coaptation or spacer element is configured to fill at least a portion of a gap between the valve leaflets of the patient.

Abstract: Certain embodiments of the present disclosure provide a prosthetic valve (e.g., prosthetic heart valve) and a valve delivery apparatus for delivery of the prosthetic valve to a native valve site via the human vasculature. The delivery apparatus is particularly suited for advancing a prosthetic heart valve through the aorta (i.e., in a retrograde approach) for replacing a diseased native aortic valve. The delivery apparatus in particular embodiments is configured to deploy a prosthetic valve from a delivery sheath in a precise and controlled manner at the target location within the body.

Abstract: A delivery apparatus includes a steerable shaft having a proximal portion, a distal portion, and a pull-wire conduit that extends through the proximal and distal portions. A pull wire extends through the conduit and has a distal portion that is fixed to the shaft. An adjustment mechanism is connected to the proximal end portion of the pull wire and configured to increase and decrease tension in the pull wire to adjust the curvature of the shaft. The distal portion of the shaft has a steerable portion including one or more layers. A compression-resistance portion is incorporated into a layer of the steerable portion, and extends angularly along a portion of a cross-section of the layer. The layer of the steerable portion into which the compression-resistance portion is incorporated has a first hardness, and the compression-resistance portion has a second hardness that is greater than the first hardness.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are steerable catheter assemblies and methods of steering catheters that utilize gimbal plate and ring mechanisms to accomplish independent control of catheter flex magnitude and catheter flex direction. Some embodiments include a catheter with two or more pull wires that flex the catheter, a housing connected to the catheter, a gimbal ring pivotally connected to the housing, a gimbal plate pivotally connected to the gimbal ring to form a gimbal assembly, and an adjustment member coupled to the gimbal assembly, such that the adjustment member is movable axially and rotationally relative to the gimbal assembly. The two or more pull wires are connected to the gimbal plate, the adjustment member engages the gimbal plate such that movement of the adjustment member adjusts the position of the gimbal assembly to thereby flex the catheter with the pull wires.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are steerable catheter assemblies that utilize various mechanisms to accomplish independent control of catheter flex magnitude and catheter flex direction to provide improved steerability of an attached catheter. Some embodiments include a catheter with two or more pull wires that flex the catheter and a control handle coupled to the catheter. The control handle can include a direction control coupled to the two or more pull wires such that adjustment of the direction control adjusts a direction of catheter flex by the two or more pull wires, and the control handle can include a magnitude control coupled to the two or more pull wires such that adjustment of the magnitude control adjusts the magnitude of catheter flex.

Abstract: Steerable catheters include cam and follower mechanisms that provide independent control of catheter flex magnitude and catheter flex direction to provide improved steerability of an attached catheter. In certain embodiments, the steerable catheter assemblies include two or more pull wires that flex the catheter, and a control handle coupled to the catheter having a direction control and a magnitude control, both of which are operably coupled to the two or more pull wires by the cam and follower mechanism. In embodiments disclosed herein, the cam and follower system can be modified to achieve particular catheter control.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are steerable catheter assemblies and methods of steering catheters that utilize ball and socket mechanisms to accomplish independent control of catheter flex magnitude and catheter flex direction. Some embodiments include a catheter with two or more pull wires that flex the catheter, a first ball, a socket coupled to the first ball to form a ball and socket assembly, and an adjustment member coupled to the ball and socket assembly, such that the adjustment member is movable axially and rotationally relative to the ball and socket assembly. Two or more pull wires are connected to the socket, and the adjustment member engages the socket such that movement of the adjustment member adjusts the position of the socket relative to the first ball to thereby flex the catheter with the pull wires.