Abstract: Within a delivery passage of a catheter, an elongated and flexible annuloplasty structure is transluminally advanced toward a heart of a subject while the annuloplasty structure is in a substantially linear configuration in which a distal end of the annuloplasty structure is closer than a proximal end of the annuloplasty structure to a distal opening of the catheter. Subsequently, the distal end of the annuloplasty structure is advanced, followed by the proximal end of the annuloplasty structure, out of the catheter and into an atrium of the heart. Within the atrium, the annuloplasty structure is transitioned toward a ring form by the distal end of the annuloplasty structure being brought towards the proximal end of the annuloplasty structure. While the annuloplasty structure remains in the ring form, the annuloplasty structure is placed against tissue of the annulus and is anchored to the tissue.

Abstract: Apparatuses, systems, and devices usable for annuloplasty are provided. These can include an annuloplasty system comprising a segment having a lumen therethrough, the segment being positionable in a vicinity of a surface of a heart valve of a heart. The system can include a tube having a distal portion that is movable through the lumen of the segment and a distal end passable through an opening in the segment that is in fluid communication with the lumen. One or more tissue anchors are deliverable through the tube, the tissue anchor(s) being shaped so as to define a tissue coupling element. The distal portion of the tube can be removably positioned within the lumen of the segment, and, while so positioned, to deploy the tissue coupling element from the distal end of the tube in order to penetrate the tissue coupling element into cardiac tissue. Other embodiments are also described.

Abstract: A heart valve prosthesis including a frame, the frame including a plurality of struts designed to extend from an upstream side of a natural heart valve to a downstream side of the natural heart valve, and a plurality of connectors attached to the plurality of struts, wherein the plurality of connectors are arranged as arcs connecting the struts, the arcs having two ends, each end attached to one of the struts, and a peak pointing from a center of the frame circumferentially outward and toward the upstream side of the frame, and the plurality of connectors are arranged as at least two rows, each row circumnavigating the center lumen of the frame. Related apparatus and methods are also described.

Abstract: Within a delivery passage of a catheter, an elongated and flexible annuloplasty structure is transluminally advanced toward a heart of a subject while the annuloplasty structure is in a substantially linear configuration in which a distal end of the annuloplasty structure is closer than a proximal end of the annuloplasty structure to a distal opening of the catheter. Subsequently, the distal end of the annuloplasty structure is advanced, followed by the proximal end of the annuloplasty structure, out of the catheter and into an atrium of the heart. Within the atrium, the annuloplasty structure is transitioned toward a ring form by the distal end of the annuloplasty structure being brought towards the proximal end of the annuloplasty structure. While the annuloplasty structure remains in the ring form, the annuloplasty structure is placed against tissue of the annulus and is anchored to the tissue.

Abstract: Apparatuses, systems, and devices usable for valve repair are provided. These can include a valve repair system comprising an annuloplasty structure positionable in a vicinity of a surface of a heart valve of a heart. The system can include a tube or plurality of tubes. One or more tissue anchors are deliverable through the tube or plurality of tubes, the tissue anchor(s) being shaped so as to each define a tissue coupling element. The tissue coupling element(s) can be deployed from the distal end of the tube or plurality of tubes in order to penetrate the tissue coupling element into cardiac tissue. Other embodiments are also described.

Abstract: A device for artificial cardiac valve support, the device including an upstream portion designed to expand to have at least one dimension wider than a native heart valve annulus, a downstream portion attached to the upstream portion, the downstream portion also designed to expand to have at least a portion with at least one dimension wider than a native heart valve annulus, and a plurality of artificial valve commissure posts. A method for producing a device for artificial cardiac valve support, the method including producing an upstream portion, producing a downstream portion, and attaching the upstream portion to the downstream portion, producing a frame for artificial cardiac valve support. Related apparatus and methods are also described.

Abstract: A heart valve prosthesis frame, the frame comprising a hollow tube shape for allowing blood to flow through; an upstream portion designed to expand to have at least one dimension wider than a native heart valve annulus; a downstream portion attached to the upstream portion, the downstream portion also designed to expand to have at least a portion with at least one dimension wider than the native heart valve annulus; wherein the downstream portion is shaped to have one side of the downstream portion of the hollow tube frame extend less from a center of the hollow tube than an opposite side of the hollow tube.

Abstract: Apparatuses, systems, and devices usable for annuloplasty are provided. These can include an annuloplasty system comprising a segment having a lumen therethrough, the segment being positionable in a vicinity of a surface of a heart valve of a heart. The system can include a tube having a distal portion that is movable through the lumen of the segment and a distal end passable through an opening in the segment that is in fluid communication with the lumen. One or more tissue anchors are deliverable through the tube, the tissue anchor(s) being shaped so as to define a tissue coupling element. The distal portion of the tube can be removably positioned within the lumen of the segment, and, while so positioned, to deploy the tissue coupling element from the distal end of the tube in order to penetrate the tissue coupling element into cardiac tissue. Other embodiments are also described.

Abstract: A heart valve prosthesis including a frame, the frame including a plurality of struts designed to extend from an upstream side of a natural heart valve to a downstream side of the natural heart valve, and a plurality of connectors attached to the plurality of struts, wherein the plurality of connectors are arranged as arcs connecting the struts, the arcs having two ends, each end attached to one of the struts, and a peak pointing from a center of the frame circumferentially outward and toward the upstream side of the frame, and the plurality of connectors are arranged as at least two rows, each row circumnavigating the center lumen of the frame. Related apparatus and methods are also described.

Abstract: Apparatuses and devices usable for annuloplasty are provided. These can include a plurality of tissue anchors and an annuloplasty structure for placement on a heart valve annulus. The annuloplasty structure can include a plurality of compressible or adjustable subunits, and a plurality of anchor mounts alternately disposed with respect to the plurality of compressible/adjustable subunits. The anchor mounts are coupleable to the tissue anchors and can define a path for passage therethrough of a respective tissue anchor. The apparatuses and devices can be independently adjustable and can be adjustable for treating various sizes of patient annuli. Other embodiments are also described.

Abstract: Apparatuses and devices usable for annuloplasty are provided. These can include a plurality of helical tissue anchors and an annuloplasty structure for placement on a heart valve annulus. The annuloplasty structure can include a plurality of compressible or adjustable subunits, and a plurality of anchor mounts alternately disposed with respect to the plurality of compressible/adjustable subunits. The anchor mounts are coupleable to the helical anchors and can define a path for passage therethrough of a respective helical tissue anchor. The apparatuses and devices can be independently adjustable and can be adjustable for treating various sizes of patient annuli. Other embodiments are also described.

Abstract: Apparatuses and devices usable for annuloplasty are provided. These can include a plurality of tissue anchors and an annuloplasty structure for placement on a heart valve annulus. The annuloplasty structure can include a plurality of compressible or adjustable subunits, and a plurality of anchor mounts alternately disposed with respect to the plurality of compressible/adjustable subunits. The anchor mounts are coupleable to the tissue anchors and can define a path for passage therethrough of a respective tissue anchor. The apparatuses and devices can be independently adjustable and can be adjustable for treating various sizes of patient annuli. Other embodiments are also described.

Abstract: Apparatuses and devices usable for annuloplasty are provided. These can include a plurality of helical tissue anchors and an annuloplasty structure for placement on a heart valve annulus. The annuloplasty structure can include a plurality of compressible or adjustable subunits, and a plurality of anchor mounts alternately disposed with respect to the plurality of compressible/adjustable subunits. The anchor mounts are coupleable to the helical anchors and can define a path for passage therethrough of a respective helical tissue anchor. The apparatuses and devices can be independently adjustable and can be adjustable for treating various sizes of patient annuli. Other embodiments are also described.

Abstract: Apparatus is provided, including an intracardiac annuloplasty structure configured for placement on an annulus of a heart valve, a first rotatable ring coupled to the annuloplasty structure and a second rotatable ring coupled to the annuloplasty structure. The first and second rotatable rings are arranged such that the first rotatable ring is rotatable to contract the annuloplasty structure while the second rotatable ring remains stationary, and the second rotatable ring is rotatable to contract the annuloplasty structure while the first rotatable ring remains stationary. Other embodiments are also described.

Abstract: Apparatus is provided, including a plurality of helical tissue anchors and an intracardiac annuloplasty structure defining a plane for placement on a heart valve annulus. The annuloplasty structure includes a plurality of compressible subunits, and a plurality of anchor mounts alternately disposed with respect to the plurality of compressible subunits. Each anchor mount (a) defines at least one opening for passage therethrough of a respective helical tissue anchor, (b) defines a path for passage therethrough of the helical tissue anchor, the path being aligned along an axis that is at a non-zero angle with respect to the plane of the annuloplasty structure, and (c) provides a structural element in the path for corkscrewing a distal portion of the helical tissue anchor therearound. Other embodiments are also described.

Abstract: Apparatus is provided, including an intracardiac annuloplasty structure. A first adjustment member has an end at a first location at first portions of the annuloplasty structure that are opposite each other. A second adjustment member has an end at a second location at the second portions of the annuloplasty structure that are opposite each other. The annuloplasty structure, the first-adjustment-member end, and the second-adjustment-member end are disposed within a catheter during delivery. After delivery, the first-adjustment-member end is moveable with respect to the annuloplasty structure toward and away from a plane of the annuloplasty structure to adjust a relative disposition of the first portions, and the second-adjustment-member end is moveable independently of the first-adjustment-member end and with respect to the annuloplasty structure toward and away from the plane to adjust a relative disposition of the second portions. Other embodiments are also described.

Abstract: A device for artificial cardiac valve support, the device including an upstream portion designed to expand to have at least one dimension wider than a native heart valve annulus, a downstream portion attached to the upstream portion, the downstream portion also designed to expand to have at least a portion with at least one dimension wider than a native heart valve annulus, and a plurality of artificial valve commissure posts. A method for producing a device for artificial cardiac valve support, the method including producing an upstream portion, producing a downstream portion, and attaching the upstream portion to the downstream portion, producing a frame for artificial cardiac valve support. Related apparatus and methods are also described.

Abstract: Apparatus is provided, including an intracardiac annuloplasty structure. A first adjustment member has an end at a first location at first portions of the annuloplasty structure that are opposite each other. A second adjustment member has an end at a second location at the second portions of the annuloplasty structure that are opposite each other. The annuloplasty structure, the first-adjustment-member end, and the second-adjustment-member end are disposed within a catheter during delivery. After delivery, the first-adjustment-member end is moveable with respect to the annuloplasty structure toward and away from a plane of the annuloplasty structure to adjust a relative disposition of the first portions, and the second-adjustment-member end is moveable independently of the first-adjustment-member end and with respect to the annuloplasty structure toward and away from the plane to adjust a relative disposition of the second portions. Other embodiments are also described.

Abstract: Apparatus is provided, including a plurality of helical tissue anchors and an intracardiac annuloplasty structure defining a plane for placement on a heart valve annulus. The annuloplasty structure includes a plurality of compressible subunits, and a plurality of anchor mounts alternately disposed with respect to the plurality of compressible subunits. Each anchor mount (a) defines at least one opening for passage therethrough of a respective helical tissue anchor, (b) defines a path for passage therethrough of the helical tissue anchor, the path being aligned along an axis that is at a non-zero angle with respect to the plane of the annuloplasty structure, and (c) provides a structural element in the path for corkscrewing a distal portion of the helical tissue anchor therearound. Other embodiments are also described.

Abstract: Apparatus is provided, including an intracardiac annuloplasty structure configured for placement on an annulus of a heart valve, a first rotatable ring coupled to the annuloplasty structure and a second rotatable ring coupled to the annuloplasty structure. The first and second rotatable rings are arranged such that the first rotatable ring is rotatable to contract the annuloplasty structure while the second rotatable ring remains stationary, and the second rotatable ring is rotatable to contract the annuloplasty structure while the first rotatable ring remains stationary. Other embodiments are also described.