Abstract: An anchor for implantation in body tissue has a number of hooks for engagement with the body tissue. The anchor is made of an elastic material such that it can be elastically deformed into a folded position by application of a constraining force, and will return to an unfolded position when no constraining force is applied. A plugging device is combined with one or more parts of the anchor to provide enhanced contact with the body tissue. The plugging device encircles at least one of the hooks. The anchor may be combined with a line which is a part of the plugging device. The line is optionally joined to the anchor by a knotting configuration having a plurality of loops around the anchor. At least one loop of the plurality of loops encircles at least two of the hooks.

Abstract: A steerable introducer for a catheter device is disclosed. The steerable introducer comprises: a body portion (12) having a longitudinal axis extending from a proximal end of the introducer toward a distal end (10) of the introducer, wherein the body portion (12) comprises a flexible distal portion (14) extending to the distal end (10). A hollow (35) is located within a part of the body portion (12) for holding the catheter device during a procedure to introduce the catheter device into the body. There is at least one steering control wire (18, 18) extending axially along the body portion (12) and along at least a part of an axial length of the flexible distal portion (14); and a pair of twisting control wires (16) extending axially along the body portion (12) and along at least a part of an axial length of the flexible distal portion (14).

Abstract: An anchor for implantation in body tissue in combination with a line, the anchor comprising a plurality of hooks for engagement with the body tissue, and wherein the anchor is made of an elastic material such that the anchor can be elastically deformed into a folded position from an unfolded position by application of a constraining force. The anchor further comprising a locking mechanism for clamping the line when, and being elastically deformable to release the line for adjustment of a length of the line, wherein the locking mechanism comprises a resiliently deformable locking segment integrated with a wall of the anchor and divided from the wall by at least one slit; wherein the anchor comprises a tubular body section defining said wall of the anchor; and wherein the tubular body section, the locking mechanism and the plurality of hooks comprise a single, unitary structure comprising the elastic material.

Abstract: A catheter device is described. The device is for implanting a leaflet anchor (10) into the heart as part of a procedure for implanting an artificial chordae line (14). The catheter device comprises: a leaflet anchor (10) for attachment to the leaflet (12) of the heart; and a leaflet anchor deployment mechanism (6), (30), (38) for deploying the leaflet anchor (10). The leaflet anchor deployment mechanism (6), (30), (38) allows for retraction and repositioning of the leaflet anchor (10) after deployment of the anchor (10) into the leaflet (12) via an ejector unit (36) having a grasping device (50) with a first configuration arranged to permit deployment of the leaflet anchor (10) into the leaflet (12) without disengagement of the leaflet anchor (10) from the ejector unit (34), and a second configuration in which the leaflet anchor (10) is reversibly released from the ejector unit (36).

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a catheter device (2) for implanting a leaflet anchor (10) and a papillary anchor (9) into the heart as part of a procedure for implanting an artificial chordae line (14) that extends between the leaflet anchor (10) and the papillary anchor (9), the catheter device (2) comprising: a two-part housing section extending from a distal end (8) of the catheter device (2) along the length of the catheter device (2) toward the proximal end (4) of the catheter device (2), the two-part housing section being arranged to be placed between the papillary muscle and a leaflet (12) of the heart during use of the catheter device (2), and the two-part housing section comprising a distal part (8) at the distal end of the catheter device (2) and a proximal part (4) located on the proximal side of the distal part (8); a leaflet anchor deployment mechanism at the proximal part (4) of the housing section for deploying a leaflet anchor (10) for attachment to the leaflet (12) of the heart; a papillary anchor deplo

Abstract: A catheter device for heart repair comprises a leaflet anchor for placement in a leaflet of a heart valve, wherein the leaflet anchor is coupled to the artificial chord; a mechanical gripper device for grasping the leaflet of the heart valve, wherein the gripper device comprises a leaflet anchor channel for housing the leaflet anchor in a folded configuration; and a U-rod wire with a U-shaped rod at one end of the wire, with the free end of the U-shape abutting the end of the leaflet anchor; the gripper device and leaflet anchor being arranged such that when the gripper device grasps the leaflet, the U-rod wire can be used to push the leaflet anchor out of the leaflet anchor channel to pierce the leaflet and form the leaflet anchor into an unfolded configuration permitting hooked formations of the leaflet anchor to secure the leaflet anchor in the leaflet.

Abstract: A catheter device (2) is provided for implanting an anchor (9) into body tissue to attach a line (14) to the body tissue. The catheter device (2) comprises: a housing section (4), (8) extending from a distal end of the catheter device (2) along the length of the catheter device (2) toward the proximal end of the catheter device, the housing section (4), (8) comprising a distal part (8) at the distal end of the catheter device (2) and a proximal part 4 located on the proximal side of the distal part (8). An anchor deployment mechanism (106), (110) is provided at the distal part (8) of the housing section (4), (8) for deployment of the anchor (9) for attachment of the anchor (9) to the body tissue.

Abstract: A furniture base (10) is disclosed comprising a frame structure (12) and an actuator device (33) that is rotatably supported in the frame structure about a rotational axis. The furniture base (10) further comprises a plurality of wheel units (76, 77, 78, 79) that are movably attached to the frame structure (12) between an upper position and lower position relative to the frame structure (12). The wheel units (76, 77, 78, 79) are connected to the actuator device (33) for movement of the wheel unit (76, 77, 78, 79) between the upper and lower position. The furniture base (10) further comprises a locking mechanism (46) for locking of the wheel units (76, 77, 78, 79) in the lower position of the wheel units (76, 77, 78, 79). The locking mechanism (46) comprises a guide pin (47) that projects out from the actuator device (33) and is attached to the actuator device (33) swingably relative to the actuator device (33).

Abstract: An anchor (10) for implantation in body tissue (12) to hold a line (14) comprises: an elastic material formed to have an unfolded configuration for placement within the body tissue (12), and a folded configuration for use prior to deployment of the anchor (10) and arranged to permit placement of the anchor (10) into an anchor tube (38) prior to deployment. The anchor (10) is arranged to be elastically deformed into the folded configuration by application of a constraining force, and will return to the unfolded configuration when no constraining force is applied. When the anchor (10) is in the unfolded configuration the anchor (10) has an elongate configuration comprising two anchor pins (82) extending in opposite directions with one either side of a centre (80) of the anchor (10), whilst when the anchor (10) is in the folded configuration the two pins (82) both extend in the same direction; and wherein ends (84) of the pins (82) are arranged to pierce the body tissue.

Abstract: An anchor (9) for implantation in body tissue (26) to hold a line (14) comprises a number of hooks (62) for engagement with the body tissue (26) and having a folded position and an unfolded position, wherein the anchor (9) is made of an elastic material such that it can be elastically deformed into the folded position by application of a constraining force, and will return to the unfolded position when no constraining force is applied, and wherein the hooks (62) are formed with openings (64, 66) along their length, wherein the openings (64, 66) in the hooks (62) comprise slits extending along some or all of the length of the hooks (62).

Abstract: A catheter device is described. The device is for implanting an artificial chordae line (14) in the heart. The catheter device comprises: a leaflet anchor (10) for placement in a leaflet (12) of a heart valve, wherein the leaflet anchor (10) is arranged to be coupled to the artificial chordae line (14); and a leaflet anchor deployment mechanism (6, 30, 38) for deploying the leaflet anchor (10), wherein the leaflet anchor deployment mechanism (6, 30, 38) comprises a mechanical gripper device (30, 32, 32?), for grasping the leaflet (12), wherein the gripper device (30, 32, 32?) comprises a leaflet anchor tube 38 for housing the leaflet anchor (10) in a folded configuration.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is an anchor system for implantation in body tissue to hold a line (18). The anchor system comprises an anchor (9), the anchor (9) comprising a number of hooks (62) for engagement with the body tissue and having a folded configuration and an unfolded configuration. The anchor (9) is made of an elastic material such that it can be elastically deformed into the folded configuration by application of a constraining force, and will return to the unfolded configuration when no constraining force is applied. The end of each of the hooks (62) comprises a tip (160?), wherein the tips (160?) are formed to curve towards a central axis of the anchor (9) when the anchor (9) is in the folded configuration.

Abstract: A furniture base (10) is disclosed comprising a frame structure (12) and an actuator device (33) that is rotatably supported in the frame structure about a rotational axis. The furniture base (10) further comprises a plurality of wheel units (76, 77, 78, 79) that are movably attached to the frame structure (12) between an upper position and lower position relative to the frame structure (12). The wheel units (76, 77, 78, 79) are connected to the actuator device (33) for movement of the wheel unit (76, 77, 78, 79) between the upper and lower position. The furniture base (10) further comprises a locking mechanism (46) for locking of the wheel units (76, 77, 78, 79) in the lower position of the wheel units (76, 77, 78, 79). The locking mechanism (46) comprises a guide pin (47) that projects out from the actuator device (33) and is attached to the actuator device (33) swingably relative to the actuator device (33).

Abstract: A catheter device for repair of the heart by implanting an artificial chord is disclosed. The device comprises a leaflet anchor 10 for placement in a leaflet 12 of a heart valve, wherein the leaflet anchor 10 is arranged to be coupled to the artificial chord 14; and a mechanical gripper device 6 for grasping the leaflet 12 of the heart valve, wherein the gripper device 6 comprises a leaflet anchor channel for housing the leaflet anchor 10 in a folded configuration; the gripper device 6 and leaflet anchor 10 being arranged such that when, in use, the gripper device 6 grasps the leaflet 12, the leaflet anchor 10 can be pushed out of the leaflet anchor channel to pierce the leaflet 12 and form the leaflet anchor 10 into an unfolded configuration so that hooked formations of the leaflet anchor 10 can, in use, secure the leaflet anchor 10 in the leaflet 12.

Abstract: A catheter device for heart repair comprises a leaflet anchor for placement in a leaflet of a heart valve, wherein the leaflet anchor is coupled to the artificial chord; a mechanical gripper device for grasping the leaflet of the heart valve, wherein the gripper device comprises a leaflet anchor channel for housing the leaflet anchor in a folded configuration; and a U-rod wire with a U-shaped rod at one end of the wire, with the free end of the U-shape abutting the end of the leaflet anchor; the gripper device and leaflet anchor being arranged such that when the gripper device grasps the leaflet, the U-rod wire can be used to push the leaflet anchor out of the leaflet anchor channel to pierce the leaflet and form the leaflet anchor into an unfolded configuration permitting hooked formations of the leaflet anchor to secure the leaflet anchor in the leaflet.

Abstract: A catheter device for repair of the heart by implanting an artificial chord is disclosed. The device comprises a leaflet anchor 10 for placement in a leaflet 12 of a heart valve, wherein the leaflet anchor 10 is arranged to be coupled to the artificial chord 14; and a mechanical gripper device 6 for grasping the leaflet 12 of the heart valve, wherein the gripper device 6 comprises a leaflet anchor channel for housing the leaflet anchor 10 in a folded configuration; the gripper device 6 and leaflet anchor 10 being arranged such that when, in use, the gripper device 6 grasps the leaflet 12, the leaflet anchor 10 can be pushed out of the leaflet anchor channel to pierce the leaflet 12 and form the leaflet anchor 10 into an unfolded configuration so that hooked formations of the leaflet anchor 10 can, in use, secure the leaflet anchor 10 in the leaflet 12.