Abstract: Described herein are artificial valves that have a frame and leaflets that grow or expand with a patient. Upon placing the valve inside the patient, the valve expands as the annulus of the patient expands. The frame of the valve is configured to expand which in turn causes the leaflets to expand (e.g., to grow). The valve includes a thin undulating wire embedded inside the leaflets. As the annulus of the patient grows, the frame expands, and as the frame expands, the leaflets grow. The growth or expansion of the leaflets is configured so that the valve continues to operate properly (e.g., the leaflets continue to coapt) with expansion of the annulus. The change in size of the valve can be configured to accommodate changes in size of the annulus from an infant or child to an adult.

Abstract: A heart valve repair system includes an implantable device and a connector. The implantable device is configured to attach to at least two leaflets of a native heart valve of a patient and hold the at least two leaflets in a relatively fixed position. The connector is separate from the implantable device and includes first and second tissue anchors. The connector is configured to be attached to the at least two leaflets of the native valve when the at least two leaflets are held by the implantable device in the relatively fixed position. The implantable device is configured to be detached from the at least two leaflets and removed from the patient with the connector remaining attached to the at least two leaflets.

Abstract: Described herein are artificial valves that have a frame and leaflets that grow or expand with a patient. Upon placing the valve inside the patient, the valve expands as the annulus of the patient expands. The frame of the valve is configured to expand which in turn causes the leaflets to expand (e.g., to grow). The valve includes a thin undulating wire embedded inside the leaflets. As the annulus of the patient grows, the frame expands, and as the frame expands, the leaflets grow. The growth or expansion of the leaflets is configured so that the valve continues to operate properly (e.g., the leaflets continue to coapt) with expansion of the annulus. The change in size of the valve can be configured to accommodate changes in size of the annulus from an infant or child to an adult.

Abstract: A clip may be configured to close the portion of the heart, to reduce blood flow therethrough as well as passage of clots or other undesired materials. The clip may be configured to close the left atrial appendage (LAA). The closure of the LAA may reduce the possibility of stroke or other maladies stemming from fluid flow with the LAA. Delivery systems may comprise expansion apparatuses for a left atrial appendage clip. The expansion apparatuses may include retention mechanisms for retaining the clip.

Abstract: A cardiovascular implant device includes an annular body, one or more anchoring members, and a flow directing component. The annular body includes a central flow tube extending from an inflow end to an outflow end and a flow path extending through the central flow tube. The one or more anchoring members extending outward from the annular body and are configured to secure the cardiovascular implant device to a tissue wall. The flow directing component is positioned to align a flow of blood out of the cardiovascular implant device with a natural flow pattern of blood in a right atrium so that the flow of blood out of the cardiovascular implant device joins with the natural flow pattern of blood in the right atrium.

Abstract: Described herein are thermal mass flow sensors that combine calorimetric and anemometric (e.g., hot-wire) elements to provide a hybrid approach to determining flow rate of a liquid. The flow probes or flow sensors are configured to use a heater to apply heat to a thermally-conducting material in contact with the flowing liquid, to measure a temperature of the thermally-conducting material upstream of the heater and downstream or at the heater, to adjust power to the heater to achieve a targeted temperature difference, and to determine a flow rate based at least in part on the power supplied to the heater and the measured temperatures. This approach provides flow rate due at least in part to the fluid cooling the thermally-conductive material proportionate to flow rate with non-linear effects. This hybrid approach can provide accurate readings of flow rates of liquids delivered through an IV line to a patient.

Abstract: A process for adding compliance to a blood vessel preferably includes forming a first puncture through a first wall segment of the blood vessel, forming a second puncture through a second wall segment of the blood vessel at a diametrically opposed location, deploying a first tissue anchor on an outside of the blood vessel in an area of the first puncture, deploying a second tissue anchor on the outside of the blood vessel in an area of the second puncture, and tensioning an elastic band coupled to the first tissue anchor and the second tissue anchor, thereby causing the elastic band to reshape the target segment of the blood vessel to a non-circular cross-sectional shape. The elastic band elongates and contracts during cardiac cycles for adding compliance to the blood vessel.

Abstract: A method and device for advancing a guidewire past a calcified leaflet of a heart valve are described. A dual guidewire device includes a primary guidewire, a secondary guidewire, and a sheath. The primary guidewire is configured to advance past a heart valve while the secondary guidewire is configured to pull open the calcified leaflet of the heart valve while the primary guidewire advances past the heart valve. The catheter can contain both the primary guidewire and the secondary guidewire.

Abstract: A system for delivering a guidewire through a heart valve comprises a delivery catheter configured to pass through a blood flow pathway of a heart, an inner catheter having an inner lumen, a guidewire configured to pass through the inner lumen of the inner catheter, and a positioning device crimped onto an outer surface of the inner catheter. wherein. The delivery catheter is configured to receive the inner catheter, guidewire, and positioning device and is configured to prevent expansion of the positioning device. The positioning device is configured to expand upon removal from the delivery catheter.

Abstract: A method comprises anchoring a first suture to a first papillary muscle, anchoring the first suture to a ventricle wall, and cinching the first suture to cause the first papillary muscle to move closer to the ventricle wall.

Abstract: A heart valve repair system includes an implantable device and a connector. The implantable device is configured to attach to at least two leaflets of a native heart valve of a patient and hold the at least two leaflets in a relatively fixed position. The connector is separate from the implantable device and includes first and second tissue anchors. The connector is configured to be attached to the at least two leaflets of the native valve when the at least two leaflets are held by the implantable device in the relatively fixed position. The implantable device is configured to be detached from the at least two leaflets and removed from the patient with the connector remaining attached to the at least two leaflets.

Abstract: Described herein are artificial valves that have a frame and leaflets that grow or expand with a patient. Upon placing the valve inside the patient, the valve expands as the annulus of the patient expands. The frame of the valve is configured to expand which in turn causes the leaflets to expand (e.g., to grow). The valve includes a thin undulating wire embedded inside the leaflets. As the annulus of the patient grows, the frame expands, and as the frame expands, the leaflets grow. The growth or expansion of the leaflets is configured so that the valve continues to operate properly (e.g., the leaflets continue to coapt) with expansion of the annulus. The change in size of the valve can be configured to accommodate changes in size of the annulus from an infant or child to an adult.

Abstract: A double heart valve anchoring system can include a first anchor having at least a portion configured to be secured within a first trans-septal opening in an interventricular septum, a tricuspid valve device coupled to the first anchor, and a mitral valve device coupled to the first anchor.

Abstract: Described herein are thermal mass flow sensors that combine calorimetric and anemometric (e.g., hot-wire) elements to provide a hybrid approach to determining flow rate of a liquid. The flow probes or flow sensors are configured to use a heater to apply heat to a thermally-conducting material in contact with the flowing liquid, to measure a temperature of the thermally-conducting material upstream of the heater and downstream or at the heater, to adjust power to the heater to achieve a targeted temperature difference, and to determine a flow rate based at least in part on the power supplied to the heater and the measured temperatures. This approach provides flow rate due at least in part to the fluid cooling the thermally-conductive material proportionate to flow rate with non-linear effects. This hybrid approach can provide accurate readings of flow rates of liquids delivered through an IV line to a patient.