Abstract: A catheter device includes a flexible tube and an extracorporeal unit. The tube has a distal opening that is configured to be transluminally advanced into a subject, and a proximal end. The extracorporeal unit is coupled to the proximal end, and includes (i) a body, and (ii) a series of cartridges, distributed along a proximal-distal axis of the body, with a distalmost cartridge being closest to the proximal end of the tube. A series of anchors includes a leading anchor and other anchors, each anchor being (i) housed by a corresponding cartridge, with the leading anchor housed by the distalmost cartridge, and (ii) coupled to a tether such that the tether extends along the body, parallel with the proximal-distal axis. Other embodiments are also described.

Abstract: Systems and devices for treating prolapse/bulging tissue and/or for closing tissue are provided. The systems and devices for treating prolapse/bulging tissue can include the use of a vacuum catheter and set of needles of pins. The vacuum can be used to grasp the tissue and the set of needles and pins can be used constrain the tissue via suturing. The systems and devices for closing tissue can include suturing system comprising a plurality of needles. The needles can be used to traverse an opening in tissue, leaving being a set sutures that can be cinched to close the opening.

Abstract: An implant comprises (i) first and second anchors, (ii) a tether extending between the first anchor and the second anchor, and (iii) a shape-memory band that extends alongside the tether, between the first anchor and the second anchor. A delivery assembly is adapted to (a) contract the implant at the heart, by applying energy to the shape-memory band, such that the shape-memory band draws the first and second anchors closer together, and (b) secure the implant in its contracted state by locking a stopper to the tether. Other implementations are also described.

Abstract: A stabilizer for use with a delivery system is provided. The stabilizer receives a delivery system, such as a handle portion, and prevents unwanted movement of the delivery system during a medical procedure. The stabilizer desirably includes an elongate rail that is adapted to be secured to a base or table. A rail dock is adapted to releasably couple to the delivery system. The rail dock is slidably mounted along an upper surface of the rail and includes a brake assembly. The brake assembly preferably includes a toggle member with at least one push button, wherein actuation of the push button may release or lock the brake assembly. Components of the stabilizer are provided for allowing the stabilizer to be used with different delivery systems and the stabilizer is capable of being secured to different sized tables.

Abstract: An anchor driver is transluminally advanceable to a heart of a subject, and comprises (a) a shaft; (b) a head, coupled to the shaft at a distal part of the anchor driver, and configured to engage a tissue anchor; and (c) a stiffening element that, while the head remains engaged with the tissue anchor, is repositionable from outside of the subject in a manner that transitions the anchor driver between (i) a first state, and (ii) a second state in which the distal part of the anchor driver is stiffer than in the first state. Other embodiments are also disclosed.

Abstract: An implant includes a tether and a series of anchors. Each anchor includes (i) a tissue-engaging element, (ii) a head that is slidably coupled to the tether and that includes a lock that is biased to lock in a manner that locks the head to the tether, and (iii) a push-button operatively coupled to the lock. A delivery tool includes a flexible tube that is transluminally advanceable to the heart, and a driver. The driver is configured to, for each of the anchors sequentially, (i) advance the anchor through the flexible tube to the heart while the lock is maintained unlocked by the flexible tube constraining the push-button, (ii) anchor the anchor to tissue of the heart, and (iii) release the push-button by deploying the head out of the flexible tube, the lock responsively locking. Other embodiments are also described.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided for use with a tissue anchor and an anchor driver. The apparatus includes a housing, shaped to define a channel. The channel includes (i) an anchor-storage zone, and (ii) a proximal opening configured to provide access for the anchor driver to the anchor-storage zone. The channel is configured to enable sliding of the tissue anchor therewithin to be stored in the anchor-storage zone. The apparatus also includes a retaining member, shaped to define a cradle for cradling and holding the tissue anchor in the anchor-storage zone. The retaining member includes a pillar pivotable with respect to the cradle, and configured to support the tissue anchor at the cradle. Other embodiments are also described.

Abstract: A blood vessel is temporarily distanced from an anchor while the anchor is being driven into tissue of a subject. A delivery tool can be used to deliver the anchor to the tissue and to drive the anchor into the tissue. A vessel-protection device can be advanced transluminally into the blood vessel, and used to temporarily distance the blood vessel from the anchor while the anchor is driven into the tissue by the delivery tool. Other embodiments are also described.

Abstract: A system, for use with a leaflet of a valve of a subject's heart, comprises a catheter, a cutting device, a helical needle, and a suture. The catheter is transluminally advanceable toward the heart. The cutting device is advanceable distally out of the catheter, and is adapted to cut through tissue of the leaflet to form cut tissue and cut edges at the cardiac valve. The helical needle defines a helical lumen, the helical needle configured to be advanced distally out of the catheter and to rotationally extend through, and secure together, two tissue segments of the leaflet. The suture extends through the helical lumen of the helical needle. The helical needle and the suture are configured to extend along the two tissue segments of the leaflet to suture the two tissue segments to each other. Other embodiments are also described.

Abstract: A method of repairing a mitral valve of a heart of a subject comprises positioning an elongate support of an implant at the heart such that the support is aligned with a coronary sinus of the heart. A first anchor of the implant is anchored to a first location on an anterior side of the valve, such that a first tether-segment of the implant spans across the valve between the first anchor and a first end of the support. A second anchor of the implant is anchored to a second location on the anterior side of the valve, such that a second tether-segment of the implant spans across the valve between the second anchor and a second end of the support. Other embodiments are also described.

Abstract: A delivery system includes a handle, a catheter shaft, and a steering mechanism. The catheter shaft extends from the handle to a flexible distal end portion. The steering mechanism is configured to steer the flexible distal end portion. The steering mechanism can include a steering element a control member, and one or more actuation elements. Actuating the control member can move the steering element to increase and/or decrease tension in one or more actuation elements.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided for use with a tissue anchor and an anchor driver. The apparatus includes a housing, shaped to define a channel. The channel includes (i) an anchor-storage zone, and (ii) a proximal opening configured to provide access for the anchor driver to the anchor-storage zone. The channel is configured to enable sliding of the tissue anchor therewithin to be stored in the anchor-storage zone. The apparatus also includes a retaining member, shaped to define a cradle for cradling and holding the tissue anchor in the anchor-storage zone. The retaining member includes a pillar pivotable with respect to the cradle, and configured to support the tissue anchor at the cradle. Other embodiments are also described.

Abstract: An attachment mechanism is used to attach a component to a particular location on a tube in a blood sampling-blood pressure monitoring system by a user. The attachment mechanism may include a piercing feature. The piercing feature may be used to pierce the tube to attach the component to the particular location on the tube of the blood sampling-blood pressure monitoring system selected by the user.

Abstract: Disclosed is a multi-port control valve with multi-lumen paths diverging flow so that, the multi-port control valve fills and expels fluid at the same time through the same port for use in a blood sampling, blood pressure monitoring system that includes a sampling site, a pressure transducer, and reservoir. The multi-port control valve may include a rotatable valve member and three ports. Each of the three ports is connected to one of the sampling site, the pressure transducer, and the reservoir. In particular, the rotatable valve member is rotatable, such that, depending upon a position of the rotatable valve member, one of the three ports is blocked from fluid communication with the other two ports.

Abstract: Disclosed is an adapter for use with a multi-port control valve that is used in a blood sampling, blood pressure monitoring system that includes a sampling site, a pressure transducer, and a reservoir. The multi-port control valve includes a partition and a rotatable valve member that rotates around to one of a reservoir port, a sampling site port, or a pressure transducer port to block fluid communication. The adapter comprises: a partition to define an input fluid path and an output fluid path, wherein the partition of the adapter mates with the partition of the multi-port control valve and a partition of the reservoir, in which, the partition in the adapter mates with the partition in the reservoir such that a fluid circuit is created from the multi-port control valve, through the adapter, and through the reservoir, and back to the multi-port control valve.

Abstract: Disclosed is an attachment mechanism that may be used to attach a component to a particular location on a tube in a blood sampling-blood pressure monitoring system by a user. The attachment mechanism may include a piercing feature. The piercing feature may be used to pierce the tube to attach the component to the particular location on the tube of the blood sampling-blood pressure monitoring system selected by the user.

Abstract: Disclosed is a multi-port control valve with multi-lumen paths diverging flow so that, the multi-port control valve fills and expels fluid at the same time through the same port for use in a blood sampling, blood pressure monitoring system that includes a sampling site, a pressure transducer, and reservoir. The multi-port control valve may include a rotatable valve member and three ports. Each of the three ports is connected to one of the sampling site, the pressure transducer, and the reservoir. In particular, the rotatable valve member is rotatable, such that, depending upon a position of the rotatable valve member, one of the three ports is blocked from fluid communication with the other two ports.

Abstract: Disclosed is a multi-port control valve with multi-lumen paths diverging flow so that, the multi-port control valve fills and expels fluid at the same time through the same port for use in a blood sampling, blood pressure monitoring system that includes a sampling site, a pressure transducer, and reservoir. The multi-port control valve may include a rotatable valve member and three ports. Each of the three ports is connected to one of the sampling site, the pressure transducer, and the reservoir. In particular, the rotatable valve member is rotatable, such that, depending upon a position of the rotatable valve member, one of the three ports is blocked from fluid communication with the other two ports.

Abstract: Disclosed is a multi-port control valve with multi-lumen paths diverging flow so that, the multi-port control valve fills and expels fluid at the same time through the same port for use in a blood sampling, blood pressure monitoring system that includes a sampling site, a pressure transducer, and reservoir. The multi-port control valve may include a rotatable valve member and three ports. Each of the three ports is connected to one of the sampling site, the pressure transducer, and the reservoir. In particular, the rotatable valve member is rotatable, such that, depending upon a position of the rotatable valve member, one of the three ports is blocked from fluid communication with the other two ports.