Abstract: A delivery system for use with a prosthetic heart valve having a stent frame to which a valve structure is attached, includes a shaft assembly including a distal end and a coupling structure disposed near the distal end and configured to be coupled to a distal end of the prosthetic heart valve. The system includes a sheath assembly defining a lumen sized to slidably receive the shaft assembly. The delivery system is configured to transition from a loaded state in which the sheath assembly encompasses the prosthetic heart valve to a deployed state in which the sheath assembly is withdrawn from the prosthetic heart valve. The coupling structure is configured to provide a controlled expansion or contraction of the distal end of the prosthetic heart valve based on longitudinal movement of the distal end of the shaft assembly.

Abstract: A transfer apparatus includes a support with first and second longitudinal sections. A port is provided for inflating the support to transfer a patient or other body. A selective coupling extends between the longitudinal sections to attach the sections together for the transfer of the body on the support, and to at least partially detach the longitudinal sections for removal after the transfer.

Abstract: A prosthetic valve including a wire frame having a generally tubular body portion, an interior area, a longitudinal axis, a first end comprising a plurality of crowns, and a second end comprising a greater number of crowns than the first end. The wire frame includes a plurality of adjacent rows of modified diamond-shaped structures extending between the first and second ends. The prosthetic valve further includes a valve structure that includes a plurality of leaflets and that is attached within the interior area of the wire frame.

Abstract: Features for a heart valve device are described. The device may include a frame with anchors configured to secure the device to tissue. The frame may include a flared end or skirt for additional securement of the implanted device. The device may include a seal such as a barrier and/or cuff for preventing leakage. The device may contract for endovascular delivery of the device to the heart and expand for securement within the heart, such as the within the native mitral valve annulus. The device may include a replacement valve. The valve may have leaflets configured to re-direct blood flow along a primary flow axis.

Abstract: Excessive dilation of the annulus of a mitral valve may lead to regurgitation of blood during ventricular contraction. This regurgitation may lead to a reduction in cardiac output. Disclosed are systems and methods relating to an implant configured for reshaping a mitral valve. The implant comprises a plurality of struts with anchors for tissue engagement. The implant is compressible to a first, reduced diameter for transluminal navigation and delivery to the left atrium of a heart. The implant may then expand to a second, enlarged diameter to embed its anchors to the tissue surrounding and/or including the mitral valve. The implant may then contract to a third, intermediate diameter, pulling the tissue radially inwardly, thereby reducing the mitral valve and lessening any of the associated symptoms including mitral regurgitation.

Abstract: Excessive dilation of the annulus of a mitral valve may lead to regurgitation of blood during ventricular contraction. This regurgitation may lead to a reduction in cardiac output. Disclosed are systems and methods relating to an implant configured for reshaping a mitral valve. The implant comprises a plurality of struts with anchors for tissue engagement. The implant is compressible to a first, reduced diameter for transluminal navigation and delivery to the left atrium of a heart. The implant may then expand to a second, enlarged diameter to embed its anchors to the tissue surrounding and/or including the mitral valve. The implant may then contract to a third, intermediate diameter, pulling the tissue radially inwardly, thereby reducing the mitral valve and lessening any of the associated symptoms including mitral regurgitation.

Abstract: A system includes a medical device for implanting in a valve of a subject, the implantable medical device having a self-expanding frame; and a holder configured to retain the frame of the implantable medical device in a constricted configuration and to control expansion of the frame. The holder has a controllably constrictable and expandable loop, wherein the loop is disposed about at least a portion of the self-expanding frame such that constriction or expansion of the first loop controls constriction or expansion of the frame.

Abstract: Systems, devices and methods related to various heart valve implants and for delivery of those implants are described. The implants may be used to re-size a native valve annulus or to replace a native heart valve. The implants include a re-sizable frame having angled struts. The implant is secured to tissue with anchors that can rotate without axial advancement to engage tissue while drawing the implant closer to the tissue. Collars are used to decrease the angle between struts of a frame to contract the implant. The implants can include a rotatable shaft, such as a threaded shaft, located internally to an axially translatable collar. Rotation of the shaft transmits force to the collar to cause the collar to translate axially, closing the angle of adjacent struts and decreasing the width of the implant and thus of the annulus. The implants can be delivered, secured and contracted via a catheter. The implants are repositionable and retrievable via catheter.

Abstract: A transfer apparatus includes a support with first and second longitudinal sections. A port is provided for inflating the support to transfer a patient or other body. A selective coupling extends between the longitudinal sections to attach the sections together for the transfer of the body on the support, and to at least partially detach the longitudinal sections for removal after the transfer.

Abstract: Features for a restraint to facilitate delivery and deployment of an implantable cardiac device are described. The restraint may include a series of circumferential engagements for securing inwardly corresponding portions of the implant. The restraint may be located inside the implant and provide a radially inward force on the implant. The restraint may include a center shaft having a series of grooves configured to cooperate with corresponding splines of the implant. Distal or proximal advance of the restraint disengages the restraint from the implant. The implant may include a tubular frame configured to contract and be secured by the restraint in a contracted configuration and to expand upon disengagement from the restraint. The restraint may provide for a smaller overall cross-sectional profile of a transcatheter delivery system, for instance by negating the need for a distal delivery sheath.

Abstract: A transfer system includes an air-bearing support with first and second longitudinal sections. A port is provided in flow communication with the first and second longitudinal sections, and configured for inflation of the air-bearing support for transfer of a patient or other body. A selective coupling extends between the first and second longitudinal sections, adapted to attach the first and second sections together for transfer of the body on the air-bearing support, and to at least partially detach the first and second longitudinal sections for separation and removal, e.g., upon deflation of the patient support, after the transfer is accomplished.

Abstract: A system includes a medical device for implanting in a valve of a subject, the implantable medical device having a self-expanding frame; and a holder configured to retain the frame of the implantable medical device in a constricted configuration and to control expansion of the frame. The holder has a controllably constrictable and expandable loop, wherein the loop is disposed about at least a portion of the self-expanding frame such that constriction or expansion of the first loop controls constriction or expansion of the frame.

Abstract: A transfer system includes an air-bearing support with first and second longitudinal sections. A port is provided in flow communication with the first and second longitudinal sections, and configured for inflation of the air-bearing support for transfer of a patient or other body. A selective coupling extends between the first and second longitudinal sections, adapted to attach the first and second sections together for transfer of the body on the air-bearing support, and to at least partially detach the first and second longitudinal sections for separation and removal, e.g., upon deflation of the patient support, after the transfer is accomplished.

Abstract: Systems, devices and methods related to various heart valve implants and for delivery of those heart valve implants are described. The implants may be used to re-size a native valve annulus or to replace a native heart valve. The implants include a re-sizable frame having angled struts. Anchors secure the implant to tissue and collars are used to decrease the angle between the struts and contract the frame. The implant thus expands from a first size inside of a delivery catheter, to a second and larger deployed size inside the heart to engage and anchor with the tissue, and then to a third and contracted size to re-size the annulus and/or provide a secure fit for a replacement heart valve. Various delivery systems including imaging capabilities for precise delivery, positioning and anchoring of the various implants are further described.

Abstract: Systems, devices and methods related to various heart valve implants and for delivery of those implants are described. The implants may be used to re-size a native valve annulus or to replace a native heart valve. The implants include a re-sizable frame having angled struts. The implant is secured to tissue with anchors that can rotate without axial advancement to engage tissue while drawing the implant closer to the tissue. Collars are used to decrease the angle between struts of a frame to contract the implant. The implants can include a rotatable shaft, such as a threaded shaft, located internally to an axially translatable collar. Rotation of the shaft transmits force to the collar to cause the collar to translate axially, closing the angle of adjacent struts and decreasing the width of the implant and thus of the annulus. The implants can be delivered, secured and contracted via a catheter. The implants are repositionable and retrievable via catheter.

Abstract: Systems, devices and methods related to various heart valve implants and for delivery of those heart valve implants are described. The implants may be used to re-size a native valve annulus or to replace a native heart valve. The implants include a re-sizable frame having angled struts. Anchors secure the implant to tissue and collars are used to decrease the angle between the struts and contract the frame. The implant thus expands from a first size inside of a delivery catheter, to a second and larger deployed size inside the heart to engage and anchor with the tissue, and then to a third and contracted size to re-size the annulus and/or provide a secure fit for a replacement heart valve. Various delivery systems including imaging capabilities for precise delivery, positioning and anchoring of the various implants are further described.

Abstract: Methods related to delivery of various heart valve implants are described. The implant may be delivered using an ultrasound imaging delivery system. The ultrasound imaging delivery system may be used to deliver a variety of different devices, including mitral valve reshaping devices, mitral valve replacement valves, and others. A deployment catheter carrying an implant having a tissue anchor is advanced to a deployment site in a heart. An imaging element is positioned adjacent the implant and a relationship between the tissue anchor and an anatomical landmark in the heart is visualized. The implant is then attached by driving the tissue anchor into tissue in the heart.

Abstract: A polymer coating/ring is employed to aid in the sealing and connection of modular elements used in body flow lumens for the exclusion and bypass of diseased regions of the flow lumen, such as where aneurysm occurs adjacent to branching blood vessels.

Abstract: Features for a heart valve device are described. The device may include a frame with anchors configured to secure the device to tissue. The frame may include a flared end or skirt for additional securement of the implanted device. The device may include a seal such as a barrier and/or cuff for preventing leakage. The device may contract for endovascular delivery of the device to the heart and expand for securement within the heart, such as the within the native mitral valve annulus. The device may include a replacement valve. The valve may have leaflets configured to re-direct blood flow along a primary flow axis.

Abstract: A dispensing mechanism for delivering a dosage of medicament including a housing having a proximal-distal axis; a plunger rod having a screw thread and configured to advance along the proximal-distal axis relative to the housing; a user-operable push button moveable along the proximal-distal axis relative to the housing; a twist driver threadably engaged with the push button such that movement of the push button towards the distal end of the housing causes rotation of the twist driver about the proximal-distal axis; and a driver engaged with the twist driver such that rotation of the twist driver causes rotation of the driver, the driver also engaged with a portion of the plunger rod such that rotation of the driver causes rotation of the plunger rod, advancing the plunger rod along the proximal-distal axis relative to the housing.