Abstract: An apparatus for affixing a first tissue to a second tissue and methods of manufacturing and using the same. The apparatus comprises an elongated needle; a handle disposed at a proximal end of the elongated needle; a superelastic anchor disposed within the elongated needle, the anchor comprises: at least one normally-expanded elongated hook that is biased to a contracted state to fit within the elongated needle; a securing element; and an advancement mechanism triggerable by the handle and being configured to: eject the anchor out of a distal end of said elongated needle to allow the elongated hook to extend distally outward from the longitudinal axis of the elongated needle, into or beyond a tissue, and following the ejection of the anchor, eject the securing element from the apparatus to prevent movement of the anchor in at least one direction.

Abstract: An apparatus for affixing a first tissue to a second tissue and methods of manufacturing and using the same. The apparatus comprises an elongated needle; a handle disposed at a proximal end of the elongated needle; a superelastic anchor disposed within the elongated needle, the anchor comprises: at least one normally-expanded elongated hook that is biased to a contracted state to fit within the elongated needle; a securing element; and an advancement mechanism triggerable by the handle and being configured to: eject the anchor out of a distal end of said elongated needle to allow the elongated hook to extend distally outward from the longitudinal axis of the elongated needle, into or beyond a tissue, and following the ejection of the anchor, eject the securing element from the apparatus to prevent movement of the anchor in at least one direction.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods are described including a docking element (20) configured to be implanted within a subject's left atrium such that no portion of the docking element (20) extends through the subject's mitral valve. The docking element (20) includes a ring (40), a frame (24) extending upwardly from the ring (40), and a radial protrusion (50) configured to extend radially outwardly from the frame, to be disposed in a vicinity of the subject's native mitral annulus, and to generate tissue ingrowth to the radial protrusion from walls of the left atrium at least in the vicinity of the subject's native mitral annulus. A bridging material (56), which is disposed between radial protrusion (50) and the ring (40), forms a seal between the radial protrusion (50) and the ring (40). Other applications are also described.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods are described for treating a subject with a diseased mitral valve. A mitral annulus repair device is implanted within the subject's left atrium. The device includes a ring configured to be implanted within 15 mm of a native mitral annulus of the subject, and a frame extending upwardly from the ring, the frame being configured to anchor the mitral annulus repair device within the left atrium, prior to the tissue ingrowth to the mitral annulus repair device occurring, by the frame expanding against inner walls and a roof of the left atrium. The ring is adjustable in size and is configured to reduce a diameter of the subject's native mitral annulus by a diameter of the ring being reduced, subsequent to tissue ingrowth to the mitral annulus repair device having occurred. Other applications are also described.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods are described for treating a subject with a diseased mitral valve. A docking element is implanted within the subject's left atrium such that no portion of the docking element extends through the subject's mitral valve. The docking element includes a ring having a smaller size than that of the subject's mitral annulus, and which configured to be implanted within 15 mm of the mitral annulus. A frame extends upwardly from the ring, a portion of the frame being configured to be disposed in a vicinity of the mitral annulus and to generate tissue ingrowth from the subject's atrial walls in the vicinity of the mitral annulus. A material disposed between the portion of the frame and the ring is configured to form a seal between atrial walls in the vicinity of the mitral annulus and the ring. Other applications are also described.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods are described for treating a subject with a diseased atrioventricular valve. A docking element is implanted within the subject's atrium such that no portion of the docking element extends through the subject's atrioventricular valve. The docking becomes anchored to tissue of the atrium at least partially via ingrowth of the tissue of the atrium. The docking element includes a ring, which is implanted at the annulus of the atrioventricular valve, and a frame having a height of at least 15 mm, which extends upwardly from the ring. A prosthetic atrioventricular valve apparatus is placed at least partially inside the docking element subsequent to the ingrowth of the tissue of the atrium having occurred, and becomes anchored to the docking element, at least partially by radially expanding against the ring. Other applications are also described.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods are described for treating a subject with a diseased mitral valve. A docking element (100) is implanted within the subject's left atrium such that no portion of the docking element extends through the subject's mitral valve. The docking becomes anchored to tissue of the left atrium at least partially via ingrowth of the tissue of the left atrium. The docking element (100) includes a ring (102), which is implanted at the subject's mitral valve annulus, and a frame (104), having a height of at least 15 mm, which extends upwardly from the ring. A prosthetic mitral valve apparatus (20) is placed at least partially inside the docking element subsequent to the ingrowth of the tissue of the left atrium having occurred, and becomes anchored to the docking element, at least partially by radially expanding against the ring. Other applications are also described.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods are described for treating a subject with a diseased mitral valve. A docking element (100) is implanted within the subject's left atrium such that no portion of the docking element extends through the subject's mitral valve. The docking becomes anchored to tissue of the left atrium at least partially via ingrowth of the tissue of the left atrium. The docking element (100) includes a ring (102), which is implanted at the subject's mitral valve annulus, and a frame (104), having a height of at least 15 mm, which extends upwardly from the ring. A prosthetic mitral valve apparatus (20) is placed at least partially inside the docking element subsequent to the ingrowth of the tissue of the left atrium having occurred, and becomes anchored to the docking element, at least partially by radially expanding against the ring. Other applications are also described.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods are described for treating a subject with a diseased mitral valve. A docking element is implanted within the subject's left atrium such that no portion of the docking element extends through the subject's mitral valve. The docking element includes a ring having a smaller size than that of the subject's mitral annulus, and which configured to be implanted within 15 mm of the mitral annulus. A frame extends upwardly from the ring, a portion of the frame being configured to be disposed in a vicinity of the mitral annulus and to generate tissue ingrowth from the subject's atrial walls in the vicinity of the mitral annulus. A material disposed between the portion of the frame and the ring is configured to form a seal between atrial walls in the vicinity of the mitral annulus and the ring. Other applications are also described.

Abstract: An apparatus for affixing a first tissue to a second tissue and methods of manufacturing and using the same. The apparatus comprises an elongated needle; a handle disposed at a proximal end of the elongated needle; a superelastic anchor disposed within the elongated needle, the anchor comprises: at least one normally-expanded elongated hook that is biased to a contracted state to fit within the elongated needle; a securing element; and an advancement mechanism triggerable by the handle and being configured to: eject the anchor out of a distal end of said elongated needle to allow the elongated hook to extend distally outward from the longitudinal axis of the elongated needle, into or beyond a tissue, and following the ejection of the anchor, eject the securing element from the apparatus to prevent movement of the anchor in at least one direction.

Abstract: An elastic connector (ES) having at least two ends, each of which includes attachment means for reversibly attaching said ES to at least two components; wherein said ES is characterized by a predetermined default configuration: and, a queue-like configuration in which said ES is adapted to provide simultaneous queue-like insertion or extraction of said at least two components through a tube or endoscope's working channel or a trocar into or from a body cavity; said ES is adapted to be reversibly transformed from said predetermined default configuration to said queue-like configuration and from said queue-like configuration to said predetermined default configuration.

Abstract: The present invention provides a clip for use during surgical procedure, comprising a body, said body is characterized by a main longitudinal axis and having a distal end and a proximal end coupled together by a shaft; said shaft is adapted to reciprocally move along said main longitudinal axis of said body; said shaft is at least partially encapsulated by a sleeve-like enveloping compression spring; said proximal end comprising actuation means; said distal end comprising one movable jaw characterized by at least one open configuration and at least one closed configuration; wherein said transformation is performed by reciprocally and linearly moving said actuation means along said longitudinal axis of said clip such that (i) said shaft is linearly moved towards and away said proximal end of said body; and, (ii) said compression spring is compressed or released such that said at least one movable jaw reconfigured.

Abstract: The present invention provides a standalone cleaning device for cleaning at least a portion of a surgical instrument, especially the scope, within a body cavity during minimal invasive surgical procedure comprising, at least one cleansing mechanism characterized by an un-deployed configuration in which the device is inserted into the body cavity; and, a deployed configuration in which the portion of the surgical instrument is cleaned; the cleaning mechanism are adapted to be reversibly transformed from the deployed configuration to the un-deployed configuration and from the un-deployed configuration to the deployed configuration; wherein the cleaning of the surgical instrument is obtained by wiping motions of the portion of the surgical instrument over the cleansing material within the body cavity, such that the removal of the surgical instrument during the surgical procedure for cleaning necessity is avoided.

Abstract: The present invention provides an elastic connector (ES) having at least two ends, each of which comprises attachment means for reversibly attaching said ES to at least two components; wherein said ES is characterized by a predetermined default configuration: and, a queue-like configuration in which said ES is adapted to provide simultaneous queue-like insertion or extraction of said at least two components through a tube or endoscope's working channel or a trocar into or from a body cavity; said ES is adapted to be reversibly transformed from said predetermined default configuration to said queue-like configuration and from said queue-like configuration to said predetermined default configuration.

Abstract: The present invention provides a standalone cleaning device for cleaning at least a portion of a surgical instrument, especially the scope, within a body cavity during minimal invasive surgical procedure comprising, at least one cleansing means characterized by an un-deployed configuration in which said device is inserted into said body cavity; and, a deployed configuration in which said portion of said surgical instrument is cleaned; said cleaning means are adapted to be reversibly transformed from said deployed configuration to said un-deployed configuration and from said un-deployed configuration to said deployed configuration; wherein said cleaning of said surgical instrument is obtained by wiping motions of said portion of said surgical instrument over said cleansing material within said body cavity, such that the removal of said surgical instrument during said surgical procedure for cleaning necessity is avoided.

Abstract: The present invention provides a clip for use during surgical procedure, comprising a body, said body is characterized by a main longitudinal axis and having a distal end and a proximal end coupled together by a shaft; said shaft is adapted to reciprocally move along said main longitudinal axis of said body; said shaft is at least partially encapsulated by a sleeve-like enveloping compression spring; said proximal end comprising actuation means; said distal end comprising one movable jaw characterized by at least one open configuration and at least one closed configuration; wherein said transformation is performed by reciprocally and linearly moving said actuation means along said longitudinal axis of said clip such that (i) said shaft is linearly moved towards and away said proximal end of said body; and, (ii) said compression spring is compressed or released such that said at least one movable jaw reconfigured.