Abstract: An apparatus for partially supporting a leaflet of a regurgitant heart valve comprises at least one subvalvular device including a subvalvular supporting portion including a leaflet-contacting upper supporter surface longitudinally spaced from an oppositely facing lower supporter surface. A supporter perimeter wall extends longitudinally between the upper and lower supporter surfaces, with at least a portion contacting a subvalvular cardiac wall adjacent to the heart valve. An anchor portion is adjacent to, and longitudinally spaced from, the upper supporter surface. The anchor portion includes a leaflet-contacting lower anchor surface longitudinally spaced from an oppositely facing upper anchor surface. A connector neck is interposed longitudinally between, and is directly attached to both of, the upper supporter surface and the lower anchor surface. The connector neck penetrates longitudinally through at least one of a base of the leaflet and an annulus of the heart valve at a manufactured puncture site.

Abstract: An apparatus for partially supporting a leaflet of a regurgitant heart valve includes at least one subvalvular device including a subvalvular supporting portion and an anchor portion. The subvalvular supporting portion and anchor portion are each at least partially formed from at least one of braided mesh strands of a first configuration, braided mesh strands of a second configuration, a balloon, a plurality of longitudinally extending struts, and a plurality of laterally extending struts. A connector neck is interposed longitudinally between, and is attached to both of, the subvalvular supporting portion and the anchor portion. The connector neck penetrates longitudinally through at least one of a base of the leaflet and an annulus of the heart valve at a manufactured puncture site.

Abstract: A system for treating regurgitation of blood through a diseased heart valve having at least two leaflets can include an implantable, lollipop-shaped device and an adjustment mechanism. The device can have a proximal end portion, a distal end portion, and an intermediate portion extending therebetween. The intermediate portion can include an expandable occluding member having a selectively adjustable diameter and a biocompatible layer attached to at least a portion thereof. The distal end portion can include an anchoring member. The adjustment member can include a distal connecting end that is operatively connected to the proximal end portion of the device. Operation of the adjustment member, after implantation of the device, can cause the diameter of the occluding member to change so that at least one of the heart leaflet coapts with a portion of the occluding member to mitigate or prevent regurgitation of blood through the diseased heart valve.

Abstract: An apparatus for partially supporting a leaflet of a regurgitant heart valve comprises at least one subvalvular device including a subvalvular supporting portion including a leaflet-contacting upper supporter surface longitudinally spaced from an oppositely facing lower supporter surface. A supporter perimeter wall extends longitudinally between the upper and lower supporter surfaces, with at least a portion contacting a subvalvular cardiac wall adjacent to the heart valve. An anchor portion is adjacent to, and longitudinally spaced from, the upper supporter surface. The anchor portion includes a leaflet-contacting lower anchor surface longitudinally spaced from an oppositely facing upper anchor surface. A connector neck is interposed longitudinally between, and is directly attached to both of, the upper supporter surface and the lower anchor surface. The connector neck penetrates longitudinally through at least one of a base of the leaflet and an annulus of the heart valve at a manufactured puncture site.

Abstract: An apparatus for partially supporting a leaflet of a regurgitant heart valve comprises at least one subvalvular device including a subvalvular supporting portion including a leaflet-contacting upper supporter surface longitudinally spaced from an oppositely facing lower supporter surface. A supporter perimeter wall extends longitudinally between the upper and lower supporter surfaces, with at least a portion contacting a subvalvular cardiac wall adjacent to the heart valve. An anchor portion is adjacent to, and longitudinally spaced from, the upper supporter surface. The anchor portion includes a leaflet-contacting lower anchor surface longitudinally spaced from an oppositely facing upper anchor surface. A connector neck is interposed longitudinally between, and is directly attached to both of, the upper supporter surface and the lower anchor surface. The connector neck penetrates longitudinally through at least one of a base of the leaflet and an annulus of the heart valve at a manufactured puncture site.

Abstract: An apparatus (100) for guiding a catheter within a patient's body, the apparatus comprising: a first wire (112) having longitudinally spaced distal and proximal first wire ends (114,116)) separated by a first wire body; a catheter (102) having longitudinally spaced distal and proximal catheter ends (130,132) separated by a catheter body having a catheter lumen (136) extending longitudinally therethrough between the distal and proximal catheter ends, the catheter having a catheter aperture (138) extending substantially laterally through the catheter body at a location proximally adjacent to the distal catheter end; a second wire (120) having longitudinally spaced distal and proximal second wire ends (122,124) separated by a second wire body.

Abstract: An apparatus for treating regurgitation of blood through a diseased heart valve having at least two leaflets includes a lollipop-shaped body member having a proximal end portion, a distal end portion, and an intermediate portion extending between the end portions. The intermediate portion includes an expandable occluding member having an adjustable diameter so that, during at least a portion of the cardiac cycle, at least one of the heart leaflet coapts with a portion of the occluding member to mitigate or prevent regurgitation of blood through the diseased heart valve. The proximal end portion is physically connected to the occluding member and includes a connecting mechanism for operably mating with an adjustment member for adjusting the position and diameter of the occluding member within the diseased heart valve. The distal end portion includes an anchoring member for securing the apparatus in a heart chamber containing the diseased heart valve.

Abstract: A system for treating regurgitation of blood through a diseased heart valve having at least two leaflets can include an implantable, lollipop-shaped device and an adjustment mechanism. The device can have a proximal end portion, a distal end portion, and an intermediate portion extending therebetween. The intermediate portion can include an expandable occluding member having a selectively adjustable diameter and a biocompatible layer attached to at least a portion thereof. The distal end portion can include an anchoring member. The adjustment member can include a distal connecting end that is operatively connected to the proximal end portion of the device. Operation of the adjustment member, after implantation of the device, can cause the diameter of the occluding member to change so that at least one of the heart leaflet coapts with a portion of the occluding member to mitigate or prevent regurgitation of blood through the diseased heart valve.

Abstract: In one aspect of the present disclosure, a device for treating a regurgitant heart valve in a subject can include a flexible, elongated body having a central chordae support portion disposed between first and second arms. The first and second arms can include first and second lumens, respectively, extending longitudinally therethrough. A method of treating a regurgitant heart valve in a subject is also provided.

Abstract: An apparatus for partially supporting a leaflet of a regurgitant heart valve comprises at least one subvalvular device including a subvalvular supporting portion including a leaflet-contacting upper supporter surface longitudinally spaced from an oppositely facing lower supporter surface. A supporter perimeter wall extends longitudinally between the upper and lower supporter surfaces, with at least a portion contacting a subvalvular cardiac wall adjacent to the heart valve. An anchor portion is adjacent to, and longitudinally spaced from, the upper supporter surface. The anchor portion includes a leaflet-contacting lower anchor surface longitudinally spaced from an oppositely facing upper anchor surface. A connector neck is interposed longitudinally between, and is directly attached to both of, the upper supporter surface and the lower anchor surface. The connector neck penetrates longitudinally through at least one of a base of the leaflet and an annulus of the heart valve at a manufactured puncture site.

Abstract: An apparatus for targeting a desired target site on a body tissue comprising a wall of a first body cavity of a patient includes a target catheter. The framing member, when deployed into an expanded condition, has a framing member body which includes a three-dimensionally bulbous portion defining a maximum body footprint in a lateral dimension and has longitudinally spaced proximal and distal body ends which are both longitudinally spaced from the maximum body footprint. The proximal body end is attached to the target catheter. A protrusion has a diameter which is smaller than the maximum body footprint diameter. At least one target point is carried by the framing member and is adapted for placement adjacent the desired target site. At least one target pathway is attached to at least one target point. At least a portion of the target pathway is substantially spaced apart from the framing member body.

Abstract: An apparatus for targeting a desired target site on a body tissue comprising a wall of a first body cavity of a patient includes a target catheter. The framing member has a longitudinal framing member core defining a central framing member axis. At least one target point is carried by the framing member and is adapted for placement adjacent the desired target site. The framing member comprises a plurality of longitudinally extending multi-segment framing strands.

Abstract: An apparatus for targeting a desired target site on a body tissue comprising a wall of a first body cavity of a patient includes a target catheter. A framing member has a collapsed condition and an expanded condition. The framing member has a framing member body which includes a bulbous portion defining a maximum body footprint having proximal and distal body ends which are both longitudinally spaced from the maximum body footprint. The framing member is comprised of a plurality of framing member beams. At least three framing member beam arrays of framing member beams are arranged in non-overlapping longitudinal sequence to form at least a portion of the framing member. The framing member beams that make up the framing member substantially each have a width-to-thickness fractional ratio in the range of 0.6-3.0.

Abstract: An apparatus for delivering an implanted structure to a desired target site within a body lumen of a patient includes a catheter having a longitudinally extending catheter lumen and adapted to provide access to the body lumen. A framing member has a collapsed condition in which the framing member is adapted for insertion into the body lumen through the catheter lumen and an expanded condition in which the framing member is adapted for placement within the body lumen. At least one target point is carried by the framing member and is adapted for placement adjacent the desired target site. A holding mechanism is carried by the framing member and is adapted to releasably grasp the implanted structure. At least one target pathway is attached to at least one target point. At least a portion of the target pathway extends through the catheter lumen.

Abstract: An apparatus (100) for guiding a catheter within a patient's body, the apparatus comprising: a first wire (112) having longitudinally spaced distal and proximal first wire ends (114,116)) separated by a first wire body; a catheter (102) having longitudinally spaced distal and proximal catheter ends (130,132) separated by a catheter body having a catheter lumen (136) extending longitudinally therethrough between the distal and proximal catheter ends, the catheter having a catheter aperture (138) extending substantially laterally through the catheter body at a location proximally adjacent to the distal catheter end; a second wire (120) having longitudinally spaced distal and proximal second wire ends (122,124) separated by a second wire body.

Abstract: An apparatus for treating regurgitation of blood through a diseased heart valve having at least two leaflets includes a lollipop-shaped body member having a proximal end portion, a distal end portion, and an intermediate portion extending between the end portions. The intermediate portion includes an expandable occluding member having an adjustable diameter so that, during at least a portion of the cardiac cycle, at least one of the heart leaflet coapts with a portion of the occluding member to mitigate or prevent regurgitation of blood through the diseased heart valve. The proximal end portion is physically connected to the occluding member and includes a connecting mechanism for operably mating with an adjustment member for adjusting the position and diameter of the occluding member within the diseased heart valve. The distal end portion includes an anchoring member for securing the apparatus in a heart chamber containing the diseased heart valve.

Abstract: An apparatus for targeting a desired target site on a body tissue comprising a wall of a first body cavity of a patient includes a target catheter. The framing member, when deployed into an expanded condition, has a framing member body which includes a three-dimensionally bulbous portion defining a maximum body footprint in a lateral dimension and has longitudinally spaced proximal and distal body ends which are both longitudinally spaced from the maximum body footprint. The proximal body end is attached to the target catheter. A protrusion has a diameter which is smaller than the maximum body footprint diameter. At least one target point is carried by the framing member and is adapted for placement adjacent the desired target site. At least one target pathway is attached to at least one target point. At least a portion of the target pathway is substantially spaced apart from the framing member body.

Abstract: An apparatus for targeting a desired target site on a body tissue comprising a wall of a first body cavity of a patient includes a target catheter. A framing member has a collapsed condition and an expanded condition. The framing member has a framing member body which includes a bulbous portion defining a maximum body footprint having proximal and distal body ends which are both longitudinally spaced from the maximum body footprint. The framing member is comprised of a plurality of framing member beams. At least three framing member beam arrays of framing member beams are arranged in non-overlapping longitudinal sequence to form at least a portion of the framing member. The framing member beams that make up the framing member substantially each have a width-to-thickness fractional ratio in the range of 0.6-3.0.

Abstract: An apparatus for targeting a desired target site on a body tissue comprising a wall of a first body cavity of a patient includes a target catheter. The framing member has a longitudinal framing member core defining a central framing member axis. At least one target point is carried by the framing member and is adapted for placement adjacent the desired target site. The framing member comprises a plurality of longitudinally extending multi-segment framing strands.

Abstract: In one aspect of the present disclosure, a device for treating a regurgitant heart valve in a subject can include a flexible, elongated body having a central chordae support portion disposed between first and second arms. The first and second arms can include first and second lumens, respectively, extending longitudinally therethrough. A method of treating a regurgitant heart valve in a subject is also provided.