Abstract: An implant that includes a ring, anchors, and adjustment elements is advanced to a subject's heart valve. The ring includes hinges, and struts arranged in a pattern of alternating peaks and troughs. The ring circumscribes a central axis. At least one hinge is disposed at each trough. Each strut has a first end-portion and a second end-portion. Each peak is defined by convergence of adjacent first end-portions. Each trough is defined by convergence of adjacent second end-portions. Each anchor has a longitudinal axis. Within the heart, the longitudinal axis of at least one of the anchors is deflected with respect to the central axis, and each of the anchors is driven along its longitudinal axis with respect to the trough and into tissue of the heart. Subsequently, tissue of the heart is contracted by rotating the plurality of adjustment elements. Other embodiments are also described.

Abstract: A method of crimping an implantable prosthetic valve can include placing protective material over at least a portion of the implantable prosthetic valve. The protective material can be configured to occupy space between open cells of a frame of the implantable prosthetic valve to prevent damage to a leaflet structure of the implantable prosthetic valve. The method can also include crimping the implantable prosthetic valve with the protective material on the implantable prosthetic valve, and removing the protective material from between the frame and the leaflet structure of the implantable prosthetic valve.

Abstract: A method of crimping an implantable prosthetic valve can include placing protective material over at least a portion of the implantable prosthetic valve. The protective material can be configured to occupy space between open cells of a frame of the implantable prosthetic valve to prevent damage to a leaflet structure of the implantable prosthetic valve. The method can also include crimping the implantable prosthetic valve with the protective material on the implantable prosthetic valve, and removing the protective material from between the frame and the leaflet structure of the implantable prosthetic valve.

Abstract: Heart valve prostheses are provided for replacing a cardiac valve. The heart valve prosthesis includes a self-expanding frame including a first portion and a second portion. In the collapsed configuration, the first portion is positioned adjacent to the second portion. In the expanded configuration, the first portion moves to be positioned within an interior area of the second portion.

Abstract: A method of crimping an implantable prosthetic valve can include placing protective material over at least a portion of the implantable prosthetic valve. The protective material can be configured to occupy space between open cells of a frame of the implantable prosthetic valve to prevent damage to a leaflet structure of the implantable prosthetic valve. The method can also include crimping the implantable prosthetic valve with the protective material on the implantable prosthetic valve, and removing the protective material from between the frame and the leaflet structure of the implantable prosthetic valve.

Abstract: A method of crimping an implantable prosthetic valve can include placing protective material over at least a portion of the implantable prosthetic valve. The protective material can be configured to occupy space between open cells of a frame of the implantable prosthetic valve to prevent damage to a leaflet structure of the implantable prosthetic valve. The method can also include crimping the implantable prosthetic valve with the protective material on the implantable prosthetic valve, and removing the protective material from between the frame and the leaflet structure of the implantable prosthetic valve.

Abstract: A method of crimping an implantable prosthetic valve can include placing protective material over at least a portion of the implantable prosthetic valve. The protective material can be configured to occupy space between open cells of a frame of the implantable prosthetic valve to prevent damage to a leaflet structure of the implantable prosthetic valve. The method can also include crimping the implantable prosthetic valve with the protective material on the implantable prosthetic valve, and removing the protective material from between the frame and the leaflet structure of the implantable prosthetic valve.

Abstract: A prosthetic valve for implantation within a native mitral valve may be provided. The prosthetic valve may include an annular valve body, a plurality of atrial anchoring arms configured to extend radially outward from the annular valve body, and a plurality of ventricular anchoring legs configured to extend radially outward from the annular valve body. The arms may be configured to engage an atrial portion of the native mitral valve and the ventricular anchoring legs may be configured to engage a ventricular portion of the native mitral valve. The atrial anchoring arms and the ventricular anchoring legs may be positioned relative to each other such that when the atrial anchoring arms and ventricular anchoring legs engage the native mitral valve, a volume between the atrial anchoring arms and ventricular anchoring legs is configured to be substantially filled with tissue.

Abstract: Prosthetic valves and methods of implanting prosthetic valves may be provided, including an expandable prosthetic valve for implantation within a native heart valve. The prosthetic valve may include an annular valve body and atrial anchoring arms configured to extend radially outward from the annular valve body. Each atrial anchoring arm may have a proximal arm end and a distal arm end. The flexibility of at least one atrial anchoring arm may vary substantially from the proximal arm end thereof to the distal arm end thereof. The prosthetic valve may also include a plurality of ventricular anchoring legs configured to extend radially outward from the annular valve body. Each ventricular anchoring leg may have a proximal leg end and a distal leg end. Each ventricular anchoring leg may have a substantially constant flexibility from the proximal leg end to the distal leg end.

Abstract: An expandable prosthetic valve for implantation within a native heart valve may be provided. The prosthetic valve may include an expandable annular valve body. The valve body may include an atrial inlet opening and a ventricular outlet opening. The valve body may additionally include a plurality of tissue anchors extending from the valve body. The prosthetic valve may additionally include a flexible annular protective sleeve positioned about the rim of the valve body outlet opening and affixed to the outlet opening.

Abstract: A prosthetic valve for implantation within a native heart valve may be provided. The prosthetic valve may include an annular outer frame having a plurality of ventricular anchoring legs extending therefrom, as well as an inner frame having a plurality of atrial anchoring arms extending therefrom. A portion of each ventricular anchoring leg may be configured to overlap with a portion of each atrial anchoring arm in a common lateral plane. As a result, a prosthetic valve with a reduced axial length may be provided.

Abstract: A prosthetic valve for implantation within a native mitral valve may be provided. The prosthetic valve may include an annular valve body. The prosthetic valve may also include a plurality of tissue anchors arranged about the valve body and configured to extend from connection points on the valve body. The prosthetic valve may also include at least one protective fabric covering extending over each of the connection points between each tissue anchor and the valve body.

Abstract: A prosthetic valve configured for implantation within a native valve may be provided. The prosthetic valve may include an expandable valve body having an inner lumen extending along a longitudinal axis of the valve body. The prosthetic valve may additionally include a plurality of ventricular tissue anchors configured to extend from the valve body to ventricular anchor distal ends, as well as a plurality of atrial tissue anchors configured to extend from the valve body to atrial anchor distal ends. Each atrial tissue anchor may include a rigid portion, and a flexible portion situated between a distal end of the rigid portion and the atrial anchor distal end. The ventricular anchor distal end of a ventricular tissue anchor and the distal end of the rigid portion of an atrial tissue anchor may be configured to be equidistant from the longitudinal axis of the valve body.

Abstract: Prosthetic heart valves and methods of implanting prosthetic heart valves may be provided, including a method of implanting an expandable prosthetic valve within a native mitral valve between a heart atrium and a heart ventricle. The prosthetic valve may be constrained from expansion during delivery and may include an annular valve body, a plurality of ventricular anchors, and a plurality of atrial anchors. The method may include releasing the plurality of ventricular anchors within the atrium, releasing the plurality of atrial anchors within the atrium, moving the released ventricular anchors through the mitral valve and into the ventricle, and after moving the released ventricular anchors from the atrium to the ventricle, releasing the annular valve body. As a result, the prosthetic valve may be anchored within the mitral valve.

Abstract: Prosthetic valves and methods of implanting prosthetic valves may be provided, including a prosthetic valve for implantation within a native heart valve. The prosthetic valve may include an annular valve body, a plurality of atrial anchoring arms, and a plurality of ventricular anchoring legs. The arms and legs may extend radially outward from the annular valve body and may each include a native valve tissue engaging portion. The arms may be angularly offset from the legs, with the tissue engaging portion of each arm and each leg arranged such that when the arms and legs are positioned on opposing sides of native heart valve tissue, the native heart valve tissue may assume a serpentine arrangement between the arms and the legs.

Abstract: A prosthetic valve for implantation within a native mitral valve may be provided. The prosthetic valve may include an annular valve body and a plurality of atrial anchoring arms and a plurality of ventricular anchoring legs configured to extend radially outward from the annular valve body. The prosthetic valve may also include a blood-inflatable cuff situated between the arms and legs and fastened to at least one arm. The cuff may be configured to extend radially outward beyond a terminal end of at least one arm when fully inflated with blood.

Abstract: A prosthetic heart valve, which may include an expandable annular outer frame having a tubular portion and at least one tissue anchor portion configured to extend from the tubular portion, may be provided. The at least one tissue anchor portion may have a plurality of attachment locations. The prosthetic heart valve may also include an expandable inner frame configured at least partially within the expandable annular outer frame. The expandable inner frame may be connected to the expandable annular outer frame solely at one or more of the plurality of attachment locations of the at least one tissue anchor portion.

Abstract: An expandable prosthetic valve for implantation within a native mitral valve may be provided. The prosthetic valve may include an expandable valve body having an atrial end, a ventricular end opposite the atrial end, and an intermediate portion extending between the atrial end and the ventricular end. The valve body may include a plurality of struts intersecting at junctions. The prosthetic valve may also include a plurality of tissue anchoring legs extending from junctions within the intermediate portion of the valve body. At least one of the tissue anchoring legs may have a cross-sectional area which is larger by at least 20% than a cross-sectional area of a strut extending between the at least one tissue anchoring leg and an adjacent tissue anchoring leg.

Abstract: A prosthetic valve delivery system may be provided. The prosthetic valve delivery system may include a first catheter and a first steering mechanism configured to bend the first catheter within a first steering plane. The prosthetic valve delivery system may also include a second catheter coaxially arranged within the first catheter and a second steering mechanism configured to bend the second catheter within a second steering plane, different from the first steering plane. Moreover, the prosthetic valve delivery system may include a capsule positioned distal to both the first catheter and the second catheter. The capsule may be configured to retain a prosthetic valve therein during transvascular advancement of the capsule.

Abstract: A prosthetic valve for implantation within a native heart valve may be provided. The prosthetic valve may include an annular valve body, as well as a plurality of ventricular anchoring legs and a plurality of atrial anchoring arms configured to extend radially outward from the annular valve body. The ventricular anchoring legs and grasping segments of the atrial anchoring arms may be configured to substantially restrict axial movement of the annular valve body within the native heart valve. In addition, anchoring segments of the atrial anchoring arms may be configured for lateral deformation relative to the native heart valve.