Abstract: Disclosed herein are minimally invasive systems and methods for performing an edge to edge repair of a heart valve on a beating heart of a patient. One or more sutures are inserted into a plurality of leaflets of the heart valve while the heart is beating through a minimally invasive access. The sutures can be threaded through a suture crimp that is advanced to the leaflets. A movable gate on the suture crimp can be actuated to secure the sutures at an appropriate tension to maintain the leaflets in a coapted position.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are minimally invasive systems and methods for performing an edge to edge repair of a heart valve on a beating heart of a patient. One or more sutures are inserted into a plurality of leaflets of the heart valve while the heart is beating through a minimally invasive access. The sutures can be threaded through a suture crimp that is advanced to the leaflets. A movable gate on the suture crimp can be actuated to secure the sutures at an appropriate tension to maintain the leaflets in a coapted position.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a suture attachment catheter configured to repair a heart valve by inserting a suture in a valve leaflet of a beating heart of a patient includes a handle control, a flexible catheter body, and a suture attachment assembly at a distal end of the catheter body. The suture attachment assembly can include a rail between a distal clamping jaw hingedly attached to the rail, and a proximal clamping jaw. One of the proximal clamping jaw or distal clamping jaw can be selectively slideable with respect to the other on the rail using a jaw actuator of the control handle to adjust a distance between the proximal clamping jaw and the distal clamping jaw. A needle can be selectively slideable within the catheter body by using a needle actuator of the proximal handle control to penetrate a valve leaflet and insert a suture through the valve leaflet when the valve leaflet is captured between the proximal clamping jaw and the distal clamping jaw.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a suture attachment catheter configured to repair a heart valve by inserting a suture in a valve leaflet of a beating heart of a patient includes a handle control, a flexible catheter body, and a suture attachment assembly at a distal end of the catheter body. The suture attachment assembly can include a rail between a distal clamping jaw hingedly attached to the rail, and a proximal clamping jaw. One of the proximal clamping jaw or distal clamping jaw can be selectively slideable with respect to the other on the rail using a jaw actuator of the control handle to adjust a distance between the proximal clamping jaw and the distal clamping jaw. A needle can be selectively slideable within the catheter body by using a needle actuator of the proximal handle control to penetrate a valve leaflet and insert a suture through the valve leaflet when the valve leaflet is captured between the proximal clamping jaw and the distal clamping jaw.

Abstract: An anchor assembly is configured to implant a cardiac anchor into a heart wall of a patient to anchor a suture configured to extend from a valve leaflet of the heart as an artificial chordae. The anchor assembly can include an anchor hub defining an open interior and a helical coil extending distally from the anchor hub and having a sharpened tip configured to embed the helical coil into the heart wall upon rotation of the helical coil. A spring can be disposed within the open interior of the anchor hub. Compressing the spring distally can create an open space within the open interior of the anchor hub for a suture extending through the anchor hub to slide freely and releasing compression on the spring can cause the spring to expand in a proximal direction to clamp the suture within the open interior of the anchor hub.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are minimally invasive systems and methods for intravascularly accessing the heart and performing a transcatheter repair of a heart valve by inserting a suture as an artificial chordae into a heart valve leaflet. In various embodiments, such systems and methods can be employed in other heart valve repair procedures such an edge to edge repair to coapt leaflets by inserting one or more sutures that retain the leaflets in a coapted positioned or inserting a suture to repair a tear in a leaflet, for example.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are minimally invasive systems and methods for intravascularly accessing the heart and performing a transcatheter repair of a heart valve by inserting a suture as an artificial chordae into a heart valve leaflet. In various embodiments, such systems and methods can be employed in other heart valve repair procedures such an edge to edge repair to coapt leaflets by inserting one or more sutures that retain the leaflets in a coapted positioned or inserting a suture to repair a tear in a leaflet, for example.

Abstract: An anchor assembly is configured to implant a cardiac anchor into a heart wall of a patient to anchor a suture configured to extend from a valve leaflet of the heart as an artificial chordae. The anchor assembly can include an anchor hub defining an open interior and a helical coil extending distally from the anchor hub and having a sharpened tip configured to embed the helical coil into the heart wall upon rotation of the helical coil. A spring can be disposed within the open interior of the anchor hub. Compressing the spring distally can create an open space within the open interior of the anchor hub for a suture extending through the anchor hub to slide freely and releasing compression on the spring can cause the spring to expand in a proximal direction to clamp the suture within the open interior of the anchor hub.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are various embodiments of suture adjustment mechanisms for anchors configured to be inserted into a heart wall of a patient to anchor a suture as an artificial chordae under an appropriate tension for proper valve function. Suture adjustment mechanisms can be configured to retain suture ends extending from the leaflet to the anchor with sufficient force to prevent natural movement of the leaflet from adjusting a length of the suture between the anchor and the leaflet. Free ends of the suture can extend from the anchor external to the body as tensioning strands. A surgeon can supply sufficient force on the tensioning strands from external the body to adjust a length and tension of the suture between the anchor and the leaflet.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are various embodiments of suture adjustment mechanisms for anchors configured to be inserted into a heart wall of a patient to anchor a suture as an artificial chordae under an appropriate tension for proper valve function. Suture adjustment mechanisms can be configured to retain suture ends extending from the leaflet to the anchor with sufficient force to prevent natural movement of the leaflet from adjusting a length of the suture between the anchor and the leaflet. Free ends of the suture can extend from the anchor external to the body as tensioning strands. A surgeon can supply sufficient force on the tensioning strands from external the body to adjust a length and tension of the suture between the anchor and the leaflet.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are various embodiments of cardiac anchors configured to be inserted into a heart wall of a patient to anchor a suture as an artificial chordae under an appropriate tension for proper valve function. Such cardiac anchors are particularly suitable for use in intravascular, transcatheter procedures.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are embodiments of cardiac anchors configured to be inserted into a heart wall of a patient to anchor a suture as an artificial chordae under an appropriate tension for proper valve function. Such cardiac anchors are particularly suitable for use in intravascular, transcatheter procedures.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a suture attachment catheter configured to repair a heart valve by inserting a suture in a valve leaflet of a beating heart of a patient includes a handle control, a flexible catheter body, and a suture attachment assembly at a distal end of the catheter body. The suture attachment assembly can include a rail between a distal clamping jaw hingedly attached to the rail, and a proximal clamping jaw. One of the proximal clamping jaw or distal clamping jaw can be selectively slideable with respect to the other on the rail using a jaw actuator of the control handle to adjust a distance between the proximal clamping jaw and the distal clamping jaw. A needle can be selectively slideable within the catheter body by using a needle actuator of the proximal handle control to penetrate a valve leaflet and insert a suture through the valve leaflet when the valve leaflet is captured between the proximal clamping jaw and the distal clamping jaw.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a suture attachment catheter configured to repair a heart valve by inserting a suture in a valve leaflet of a beating heart of a patient includes a handle control, a flexible catheter body, and a suture attachment assembly at a distal end of the catheter body. The suture attachment assembly can include a rail between a distal clamping jaw hingedly attached to the rail, and a proximal clamping jaw. One of the proximal clamping jaw or distal clamping jaw can be selectively slideable with respect to the other on the rail using a jaw actuator of the control handle to adjust a distance between the proximal clamping jaw and the distal clamping jaw. A needle can be selectively slideable within the catheter body by using a needle actuator of the proximal handle control to penetrate a valve leaflet and insert a suture through the valve leaflet when the valve leaflet is captured between the proximal clamping jaw and the distal clamping jaw.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are various embodiments of cardiac anchors configured to be inserted into a heart wall of a patient to anchor a suture as an artificial chordae under an appropriate tension for proper valve function. Such cardiac anchors are particularly suitable for use in intravascular, transcatheter procedures.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are minimally invasive systems and methods for performing an edge to edge repair of a heart valve on a beating heart of a patient. One or more sutures are inserted into a plurality of leaflets of the heart valve while the heart is beating through a minimally invasive access. The sutures can be threaded through a suture crimp that is advanced to the leaflets. A movable gate on the suture crimp can be actuated to secure the sutures at an appropriate tension to maintain the leaflets in a coapted position.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are various embodiments of cardiac anchors configured to be inserted into a heart wall of a patient to anchor a suture as an artificial chordae under an appropriate tension for proper valve function. Such cardiac anchors are particularly suitable for use in intravascular, transcatheter procedures.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are various embodiments of suture adjustment mechanisms for anchors configured to be inserted into a heart wall of a patient to anchor a suture as an artificial chordae under an appropriate tension for proper valve function. Suture adjustment mechanisms can be configured to retain suture ends extending from the leaflet to the anchor with sufficient force to prevent natural movement of the leaflet from adjusting a length of the suture between the anchor and the leaflet. Free ends of the suture can extend from the anchor external to the body as tensioning strands. A surgeon can supply sufficient force on the tensioning strands from external the body to adjust a length and tension of the suture between the anchor and the leaflet.

Abstract: Various embodiments of anchors are configured to be inserted into a heart wall of a patient to anchor a suture as an artificial chordae under an appropriate tension for proper valve function. Each of the disclosed anchor embodiments “toggles” from a first position for delivery of the anchor to the heart wall and a second position for insertion of the anchor into the heart wall. In some embodiments, it is the “toggle” to the second position that provides the insertion force for inserting the anchor into the heart muscle sufficient to retain the anchor from accidental withdrawal from the heart wall during normal valve operation (e.g., when a valve leaflet pulls on the suture attached to the anchor during systole). Such anchors are particularly suitable for use in intravascular, transcatheter procedures as described above given the inherent difficulties in providing sufficient force for insertion of an anchor into the heart wall with a flexible catheter.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are various embodiments of suture adjustment mechanisms for anchors configured to be inserted into a heart wall of a patient to anchor a suture as an artificial chordae under an appropriate tension for proper valve function. Suture adjustment mechanisms can be configured to retain suture ends extending from the leaflet to the anchor with sufficient force to prevent natural movement of the leaflet from adjusting a length of the suture between the anchor and the leaflet. Free ends of the suture can extend from the anchor external to the body as tensioning strands. A surgeon can supply sufficient force on the tensioning strands from external the body to adjust a length and tension of the suture between the anchor and the leaflet.