Abstract: Components for valve treatment systems are disclosed. Valve treatment systems can include a delivery system for an implantable device. The delivery system can include one or more of clasp control components slidably disposed on a catheter handle, a control element for opening and closing the implantable device, a catheter assembly with features to reduce friction with another catheter assembly, grips for attaching catheter assemblies to clamps, catheter assemblies with features that stiffen or provide variable stiffness, and catheter assemblies with one or more steering control lumens incorporated into a reinforcement layer.

Abstract: A method of making an enamel bead and resulting bead which includes the provision of a short length of copper tubing forming a bead core member wherein the copper tubing is heated to a red hot state and rolled in copper enamel flux one or more times to coat the tubing following which the flux coated tubing is again heated to a red hot state and rolled in particulate enamel material to coat the tubing externally with enamel material, then heating the enamel material coating until it melts and is distributed throughout the tubing outer surface in the desired bead configuration and finally cooling the enamel coating to form a highly durable bead having a copper tubing core with an outer layer of enamel of a selected color.