Abstract: An intravascular support device includes a support or reshaper wire, a proximal anchor and a distal anchor. The support wire engages a vessel wall to change the shape of tissue adjacent the vessel in which the intravascular support is placed. The anchors and support wire are designed such that the vessel in which the support is placed remains open and can be accessed by other devices if necessary. The device provides a minimal metal surface area to blood flowing within the vessel to limit the creation of thrombosis. The anchors can be locked in place to secure the support within the vessel.

Abstract: This invention relates to device, systems, kits and methods that enable selective dissection of lung tissue to remove diseased tissue from healthy tissue without damaging blood vessels or airways. The invention and methods enable minimally invasive lung surgery procedures by providing a device and method to perform automated dissection that discriminates against traumatizing critical lung tissue.

Abstract: An intravascular support device includes a support or reshaper wire, a proximal anchor and a distal anchor. The support wire engages a vessel wall to change the shape of tissue adjacent the vessel in which the intravascular support is placed. The anchors and support wire are designed such that the vessel in which the support is placed remains open and can be accessed by other devices if necessary. The device provides a minimal metal surface area to blood flowing within the vessel to limit the creation of thrombosis. The anchors can be locked in place to secure the support within the vessel.

Abstract: An intravascular support device includes a support or reshaper wire, a proximal anchor and a distal anchor. The support wire engages a vessel wall to change the shape of tissue adjacent the vessel in which the intravascular support is placed. The anchors and support wire are designed such that the vessel in which the support is placed remains open and can be accessed by other devices if necessary. The device provides a minimal metal surface area to blood flowing within the vessel to limit the creation of thrombosis. The anchors can be locked in place to secure the support within the vessel.

Abstract: An intravascular support device includes a support or reshaper wire, a proximal anchor and a distal anchor. The support wire engages a vessel wall to change the shape of tissue adjacent the vessel in which the intravascular support is placed. The anchors and support wire are designed such that the vessel in which the support is placed remains open and can be accessed by other devices if necessary. The device provides a minimal metal surface area to blood flowing within the vessel to limit the creation of thrombosis. The anchors can be locked in place to secure the support within the vessel.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a medical device and uses thereof that supports or changes the shape of tissue near a vessel in which the device is placed. The present invention is particularly useful in reducing mitral valve regurgitation by changing the shape of or supporting a mitral valve annulus. The device includes a support structure, a proximal anchor adapted to be positioned in a superior vena cava, and a distal anchor adapted to be positioned in a coronary sinus. The support structure engages a vessel wall to change the shape of tissue adjacent the vessel in which the intravascular support is placed.

Abstract: A mitral valve annulus reshaping device includes at least a portion that is formed of a biocompatible shape memory alloy SMA having a characteristic temperature, Af, that is preferably below body temperature. The device is constrained in an unstable martensite (UM) state while being introduced through a catheter that passes through the venous system and into the coronary sinus of the heart. The reshaping device is deployed adjacent to the mitral valve annulus of the heart as it is forced from the catheter. When released from the constraint of the catheter, the SMA of the device at least partially converts from the UM state to an austenitic state and attempts to change to a programmed shape that exerts a force on the adjacent tissue and modifies the shape of the annulus. The strain of the SMA can be varied when the device is within the coronary sinus.

Abstract: A shaping device and a cardiac lead, both adapted to be disposed in a coronary sinus of a patient's heart, are provided. In one method, a patient is treated by deploying in the patient's coronary sinus a shaping device and a cardiac lead and using the shaping device to modify mitral valve geometry.

Abstract: An intravascular support device includes a support or reshaper wire, a proximal anchor and a distal anchor. The support wire engages a vessel wall to change the shape of tissue adjacent the vessel in which the intravascular support is placed. The anchors and support wire are designed such that the vessel in which the support is placed remains open and can be accessed by other devices if necessary. The device provides a minimal metal surface area to blood flowing within the vessel to limit the creation of thrombosis. The anchors can be locked in place to secure the support within the vessel.

Abstract: A tissue shaping device adapted to be deployed in a vessel to reshape tissue adjacent to the vessel. In some embodiments the device includes first and second anchors and a connector disposed between the first and second anchors, with the connector being integral with at least a portion of the first anchor. The invention is also a method of making a tissue shaping device including the steps of removing material from a blank to form a connector and an integral anchor portion; and attaching a non-integral anchor portion to the integral anchor portion.

Abstract: An anchor anchors a therapeutic device having an elongated body within a body lumen. The anchor includes a fixation member carried on the device which is adjustable from a first configuration that permits placement of the device in the body lumen to a second configuration that anchors the device within the body lumen. The anchor further includes a lock that locks the fixation member in the second configuration. The fixation member may be locked in any one of a plurality of intermediate points between the first configuration and a maximum second configuration.

Abstract: A variety of steerable needles, lancets, trocars, stylets, cannulas and systems are provided for examining, diagnosing, treating, or removing tissue from a patient. The steerable needles, trocars, stylets, cannulas and systems also provide a platform for delivery of target materials, such as therapeutics, biologics, polymers, glues, etc., to a target site. An embodiment of the invention includes a steerable device for use in accessing target site in a patient comprising: a steerable member adapted to penetrate tissue; and a steering mechanism adapted to be operated by a user to apply a bending force to bend the steerable member to access the target site.

Abstract: The invention is a tissue shaping device. In some embodiments, the device includes an a reshaping element and an anchor adapted to anchor the device in a lumen, the anchor having a wire adapted to contact a wall of the lumen with an anchoring force when the device is deployed in the lumen and a force distribution element adapted to distribute the anchoring force more along a first anchoring axis than along a second anchoring axis. The invention is also a method of deploying a tissue shaping device in a lumen. In some embodiments the method includes the steps of placing an anchor in contact with a wall of the lumen to exert an anchoring force on the lumen wall; and distributing the anchoring force more along a first anchoring axis than along a second anchoring axis.

Abstract: An intravascular support device includes a support or reshaper wire, a proximal anchor and a distal anchor. The support wire engages a vessel wall to change the shape of tissue adjacent the vessel in which the intravascular support is placed. The anchors and support wire are designed such that the vessel in which the support is placed remains open and can be accessed by other devices if necessary. The device provides a minimal metal surface area to blood flowing within the vessel to limit the creation of thrombosis. The anchors can be locked in place to secure the support within the vessel.

Abstract: This invention relates generally to a design of lung devices for safely performing a transthoracic procedure. In particular, the invention provides devices and methods of using these devices to access the thoracic cavity with minimal risk of causing pneumothorax or hemothorax. More specifically, the invention enables diagnostic and therapeutic access to a thoracic cavity using large bore instruments. This invention also provides a method for diagnostic and therapeutic procedures using a device capable of sealing the wound upon withdrawal of the device. The invention includes a device comprising an elongated body adapted to make contact with a tissue of a subject through an access hole, and a sealant delivery element. The invention also includes a method of performing tissue treatment or diagnosis in a subject.

Abstract: An assembly for effecting the condition of a mitral valve annulus includes a mitral valve therapy device, a coupling structure carried by the device, a catheter, a second coupling structure, and a locking member. To implant the device, the device is first releasably locked to a pushing member by the coupling structures and the locking member. When the device is positioned within the coronary sinus adjacent the mitral valve annulus and deployed, the coupling structures may be released from each other by the release of the locking member.

Abstract: The invention provides methods of performing lung volume reduction to treat a patient. One aspect of the invention provides a method of compressing a first portion of a lung of a patient including the following steps: providing a vent connecting the first portion of the lung to the exterior of the patient; isolating the first portion of the lung from a second portion of the lung adjacent the first portion; and delivering pressurized fluid to the second portion of the lung to compress the first portion of the lung.

Abstract: This invention provides methods for treating a lung, such as to treat a patient suffering from COPD. One aspect of the invention provides a method of treating a lung including the steps of: endotracheally delivering an expandable member (such as an inflatable member) to an air passageway of the lung with a delivery system; expanding the expandable member to make contact with a wall of the air passageway; and providing an open lumen through the expandable member to provide access to a portion of the lung distal to the expandable member. Some embodiments add the step of plugging the lumen, such as by contacting a plug with the expandable member or closing a port in the lumen. Some embodiments of the invention also include the step of reducing collateral flow around the expandable member and/or reducing collateral flow to lung regions distal to the expandable member, such as by delivering a collateral flow blocking agent, through the lumen.

Abstract: The invention provides devices and systems for treating lungs. One aspect of the invention provides a lung device with an expandable member having an open lumen formed therethrough, the expandable (e.g., inflatable and compliant) member having an expanded diameter adapted to contact a circumferential wall portion of a lung air passageway. The device may also include a plug adapted to close the open lumen and a coupler adapted to couple the plug and the expandable member. Another aspect of the invention provides a lung device and delivery system including: an expandable member having an open lumen formed therethrough, the expandable member having an expanded diameter adapted to fit within a lung air passageway; and a delivery catheter adapted to deliver the expandable member to a lung air passageway, the delivery catheter having a coupler adapted to couple the catheter to the expandable member.

Abstract: This invention relates generally to lung access devices and methods of using the devices to gain access to the interior of a lung or to the mediastinal space around the lung. In particular, the invention relates to auxiliary access devices and tools for use with conventional bronchoscopes or other endoscopes to enable the delivery of more and larger devices to a target site than is currently possible through a typical endoscope or bronchoscope.