Abstract: A coronary artery check valve includes a stent configured to attach to an inner wall of a coronary artery of a living subject, and a tapered helical coil coupled to the stent and configured to regulate blood flow in the coronary artery. The coronary artery check valve is configured to prevent retrograde flow of the coronary blood supply during diastole by closing during systole of the heart when the tapered helical coil compresses longitudinally, and opening when the tapered helical coil expands longitudinally to permit blood flow into the coronary artery when a coronary pressure of the living subject drops below diastolic blood pressure.

Abstract: An expandable docking station frame includes a waist portion, a sealing portion connected to the waist portion, and a retaining portion connected to the sealing portion. The sealing portion is expandable radially outward of the waist portion to provide a seal against a first location of an inner surface of a circulatory system at a deployed position over a range of sizes of expansion. The retaining portion is expandable radially outward to engage a second location of the inner surface of the circulatory system at the deployed position, to retain the docking station at the deployed position in the circulatory system. When the expandable docking station frame is in an expanded and unconstrained state, the sealing portion and the retaining portion are joined by a concave profile portion radially inward of each of a first outermost diameter of the sealing portion and a second outermost diameter of the retaining portion.

Abstract: A septal closure and port device for implantation in the atrial septum of a patient's heart includes an expandable frame with a central portion defining a lumen, and first and second opposing end portions. The frame can expand and contract between a compressed, tubular configuration for delivery through the patient's vasculature and an expanded configuration in which the first and second end portions extend radially outwardly from the opposite ends of the central portion. The device can also have a valve member supported on the frame and positioned to block at least the flow of blood from the left atrium to the right atrium through the lumen of the frame. The valve member permits a medical instrument to be inserted through the lumen and into the left atrium, for performing a subsequent medical procedure in the left side of the heart.

Abstract: A system for implanting a repair device onto a native valve of a natural heart to repair the native valve of a patient during a non-open-heart procedure. The system includes a surgical delivery instrument and a valve repair device. The surgical delivery instrument has at least one lumen. The valve repair device is configured to be delivered through the lumen of the surgical delivery instrument and to be attached to a native valve of a patient. The valve repair device includes a pair of paddles and a pair of gripping members. The paddles are movable between an open position and a closed position, and the paddles are configured to flex upon being attached to the native valve of a patient. The paddles and the gripping members are configured to attach to the native valve of the patient.

Abstract: An implantable prosthetic device includes a coaption portion, paddles, and clasps. The paddles are moveable from a closed position to an open position. The clasps are also moveable from an open position to a closed position. The implantable prosthetic device can be used to repair a native valve, such as a native mitral valve. Other embodiments are also described.

Abstract: An implantable prosthetic device such as might be used to treat poor function of a diseased heart valve in a medical patient includes a body portion and an anchor portion including a plurality of paddles. Clasps attached to the paddles include fixed arms and moveable arms operable to secure the device to the patient's native valve leaflets.

Abstract: A coronary artery check valve includes a stent configured to attach to an inner wall of a coronary artery of a living subject, and a tapered helical coil coupled to the stent and configured to regulate blood flow in the coronary artery. The coronary artery check valve is configured to prevent retrograde flow of the coronary blood supply during diastole by closing during systole of the heart when the tapered helical coil compresses longitudinally, and opening when the tapered helical coil expands longitudinally to permit blood flow into the coronary artery when a coronary pressure of the living subject drops below diastolic blood pressure.

Abstract: A valve repair device for repairing a native heart valve of a patient includes a pair of clasps, where each clasp is configured to attach to native valve leaflet. The ends of the pair of clasps can move away from one another to a partially open position when the native valve leaflets open during a diastolic phase of a cardiac cycle, and the ends of the pair of clasps can move toward one another when the native valve leaflets close during a systolic phase of a cardiac cycle.

Abstract: Expandable docking stations for docking an expandable valve can include a valve seat, one or more sealing portions, and/or one or more retaining portions. The valve seat can be unexpandable or substantially unexpandable beyond a deployed size. The one or more sealing portions can be connected to the valve seat and extend radially outward of the valve seat. The one or more sealing portions can be constructed to expand outward of the valve seat and provide a seal over a range of sizes. The one or more retaining portions can be connected to the one or more sealing portions. The one or more retaining portions are configured to retain the docking station at a deployed position.

Abstract: An exemplary valve repair device is released from tissue of a valve of a patient by applying tension to a movable arm of a clasp in a retraction direction. A fixed arm of the clasp is attached to an inner paddle portion of a paddle of the valve repair device. The inner paddle portion is connected to an outer paddle portion of the paddle of the valve repair device. Pulling the moveable arm of the clasp flexes the inner paddle portion to allow the moveable arm to move in the retraction direction and thereby release the clasp from the valve tissue.

Abstract: An exemplary implantable prosthetic device has a coaption element and at least one anchor. The coaption element is configured to be positioned within the native heart valve orifice to help fill a space where the native valve is regurgitant and form a more effective seal. The coaption element can have a structure that is impervious to blood and that allows the native leaflets to close around the coaption element during ventricular systole to block blood from flowing from the left or right ventricle back into the left or right atrium, respectively. The coaption element can be connected to leaflets of the native valve by the anchor.

Abstract: A valve repair delivery handle includes a housing, an actuation control mechanism, and a clasp control mechanism. The actuation control mechanism includes a knob and an actuation tube. The knob is rotatably coupled to the housing. The actuation tube is coupled to the knob such that rotation of the knob in a first direction moves the actuation tube distally relative to the housing and rotation of the knob in a second direction moves the actuation tube proximally relative to the housing. The clasp control mechanism is coupled to the housing.

Abstract: An implantable prosthetic device includes a coaption portion, paddles, and clasps. The paddles are extendable from a folded closed position to an open position. A clasp is attached to each of the paddles. The clasps have a fixed arm attached to the paddle and a moveable arm. The moveable arm has a barbed portion, a first eyelet, and a second eyelet. The hinge portion connects the fixed arm to the moveable arm. A first intermediate suture loop is attached to the first eyelet and a second intermediate suture loop is attached to the second eyelet. At least one actuation suture is attached to the first and second intermediate suture loops.

Abstract: A valve repair system for repairing a native valve of a patient includes a catheter and a valve repair device. The valve repair device is disposed in the catheter. The valve repair device comprises a compressible spacer and a pair of paddles. The pair of paddles are moveable between an open position and a closed position. The valve repair device can transition to a compressed configuration with the compressible spacer between the pair of paddles in the closed position.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are steerable catheter assemblies and methods of steering catheters. Some embodiments include a catheter with first and second oppositely disposed pull wires and third and fourth oppositely disposed pull wires that flex the catheter, a control handle coupled to the catheter, a first follower connected to the first pull wire, a second follower connected to the second pull wire, a first driver coupled to the control handle and coupled to the first and second followers, a third follower connected to the third pull wire, a fourth follower connected to the fourth pull wire, and a second driver coupled to the control handle and coupled to the third and fourth followers. Rotation of the first driver moves the first and second followers in opposite directions. Rotation of the second driver moves the third and fourth followers in opposite directions.

Abstract: A system for implanting a repair device onto a native valve of a natural heart to repairing the native valve of a patient during a non-open-heart procedure. The system includes a surgical delivery instrument, a valve repair device, and a gripper control mechanism. The surgical delivery instrument has at least one lumen. The valve repair device is configured to be delivered through the lumen of the surgical delivery instrument and to be attached to a native valve of a patient. The valve repair device includes a pair of paddles, and at least four gripping members. The paddles are movable between an open position and a closed position, and the paddles and the at least four gripping members are configured to attach to the native valve of a patient. The gripper control mechanism is configured to independently move each of the at least four gripping members.

Abstract: A valve repair devices and systems for repairing a native valve of a patient include a spacer, a pair of paddles, and a pair of moveable clasp arms. The pair of moveable clasp arms are disposed between the pair of paddles and the spacer. The moveable clasp arms are configured to attach to leaflets of a heart valve. The spacer, the pair of paddles, and the moveable clasp arms are configured such that, when attached to the leaflets, the moveable clasp arms are located between the spacer and first portions of the leaflet, while second portions of the leaflet engage the spacer.

Abstract: A valve repair device for repairing a native valve of a patient includes a spacer element, a pair of paddles, and a pair of gripping members. The pair of paddles is coupled to the spacer element. The pair of gripping members is disposed between the pair of paddles. The paddles and the gripping members are configured to attach to leaflets of a heart valve. The spacer element extends past side edges of the gripping members, extends past side edges of the paddles, or extends past the side edges of both the gripping members and the paddles.

Abstract: An exemplary valve repair system for repairing a native valve of a patient during a non-open heart procedure includes a delivery device and a valve repair device. The valve repair device includes a pair of gripping members that are configured to attach to the native valve of the patient. A gripper control mechanism is configured to independently engage and move each of the gripping members.

Abstract: A valve repair device for repairing a native valve of a patient. The valve repair device includes a compressible spacer element, a pair of paddles, and a pair of gripping members. The pair of paddles are coupled to the spacer element. The pair of gripping members are disposed between the pair of paddles. The paddles and the gripping members are configured to attach to leaflets of a heart valve.