Abstract: A catheter (1) comprises a jacket (20, 33) and defining a lumen, and extends distally towards a tip (30, 31). The catheter has a helical support (20) within the jacket for at least some of the length of the jacket. The catheter distal end has a plurality of portions of different configurations for different bending and/or pushability characteristics. These may be according to different helical supports and the manner in which they are interwoven, and/or different liners with lap joints. There may be a hydrophilic coating.

Abstract: A hemostatic tissue anchor (120, 220, 320, 420, 520) is provided which is configured to be anchored to a cardiac tissue wall. The hemostatic tissue anchor (120, 220, 320, 420, 520) includes an anchor portion (130) supported by releasably positioned at a distal end of a generally elongate anchor shaft (132). The anchor portion (130) is expandable from a first generally elongate configuration to a second expanded configuration such that in the second expanded configuration it can be drawn tightly against the cardiac tissue wall when a tensile force is applied to the anchor portion (130). One or more discs (126, 226, 326) surround the anchor shaft (132). Once the one or more discs (126, 226, 326) are implanted entirely within the cardiac tissue wall, the one or more discs (126, 226, 326) act as a hemostatic seal of an opening through the cardiac tissue wall, through which opening the elongate anchor shaft (132) is disposed. Other applications are also described.

Abstract: A hemostatic tissue anchor (120) is provided that includes an anchor portion (130) supported at a distal end (192) of a generally elongate anchor shaft (132). A hemostatic sealing element (122) is coupled to and surrounds at least an axial portion of the anchor shaft (132), is configured to be disposed at least partially within a cardiac tissue wall (160) at a target site, and includes a self-expanding frame (124) attached to a sealing membrane (126). The hemostatic sealing element (122) includes an expandable portion (128) that assumes an expanded frustoconical configuration (138) that is defined by the self-expanding frame (124) and the sealing membrane (126), and acts as a hemostatic seal of an opening through the cardiac tissue wall (160), through which opening the anchor shaft (132) is disposed. Other embodiments are also described.

Abstract: Apparatus is provided that includes an implantable tissue anchor for delivery in a constrained state within a deployment tool. The implantable tissue anchor includes an anchor shaft and a tissue-coupling element, which extends from a distal end of the anchor shaft. The tissue-coupling element includes a wire and a tip, which is fixed to a distal end of the wire, and has, at a widest longitudinal site along the tip, a greatest tip outer cross-sectional area that equals at least 150% of an average wire cross-sectional area of the wire. The tissue-coupling element is shaped as an open shape that is generally orthogonal to the anchor shaft when the tissue anchor is unconstrained by the deployment tool. Other embodiments are also described.

Abstract: Medical devices and methods for closing an anatomical aperture in a tissue are disclosed. The medical devices can include distal and proximal support structures, which can include a plurality of anchor members. A connection element can connect the distal and proximal support structures, and be configured to twist to create a seal within the medical device. In certain embodiments, a sheath about the medical device can be retracted to expose the distal support structure, which can allow it to revert to an anchoring configuration from a delivery configuration, such that the anchor members can engage an interior surface of the tissue. After twisting the connection element to form a seal, the sheath can be further retracted to expose the proximal support structure, which can allow it to revert to an anchoring configuration from a delivery configuration, such that the anchor members can engage an exterior surface of the tissue.

Abstract: Medical devices and methods for closing an anatomical aperture in a tissue are disclosed. The medical devices can include distal and proximal support structures, which can include a plurality of anchor members. A connection element can connect the distal and proximal support structures, and be configured to twist to create a seal within the medical device. In certain embodiments, a sheath about the medical device can be retracted to expose the distal support structure, which can allow it to revert to an anchoring configuration from a delivery configuration, such that the anchor members can engage an interior surface of the tissue. After twisting the connection element to form a seal, the sheath can be further retracted to expose the proximal support structure, which can allow it to revert to an anchoring configuration from a delivery configuration, such that the anchor members can engage an exterior surface of the tissue.