Abstract: Devices and methods of treating fluid retention caused by congestive heart failure or other conditions resulting in edema, lymphoedema, or significant fluid retention (e.g., deep vein thrombosis, cellulitis, venous stasis insufficiency, or damage to the lymphatic network) are described. Specifically, a treatment device is used to create a passage or cannula between the lymphatic system (or other area of the body) and an external drainage device. This device can be only temporarily located in the patient or can be implanted within the patient for longer periods of time. The physician can safely and reliably remove excess fluid from the body via the device and optionally inject other treatment agents.

Abstract: A two-stage or component-based valve prosthesis that can be quickly and easily implanted during a surgical procedure is provided. The prosthetic valve comprises a support structure that is deployed at a treatment site. The prosthetic valve further comprises a valve member configured to be quickly connected to the support structure. The support structure may take the form of a stent that is expanded at the site of a native valve. If desired, the native leaflets may remain and the stent may be used to hold the native valve open. In this case, the stent may be balloon expandable and configured to resist the powerful recoil force of the native leaflets. The support structure is provided with a coupling means for attachment to the valve member, thereby fixing the position of the valve member in the body. The valve member may be a non-expandable type, or may be expandable from a compressed state to an expanded state.

Abstract: Disclosed systems for implanting annuloplasty rings and other prosthetic devices can comprise a plurality of microanchors, sutures threaded through the microanchors, the sutures passing through the prosthetic device, individual microanchor guides, such as tubes or spears, for each microanchor that contain the microanchors during delivery and allow for positioning and deployment of the microanchors into annular tissue. The systems can also comprise a bracket that is temporarily coupled to the prosthetic device, holds the plurality of microanchor guides in position relative to one another and relative to the prosthetic device, and/or guides the sutures passing through the prosthetic device. The prosthetic device can include suture locking mechanisms to secure the prosthetic device to the sutures and to the implanted microanchors after the deployment devices have been removed.

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: A two-stage or component-based valve prosthesis that can be quickly and easily implanted during a surgical procedure is provided. The prosthetic valve comprises a support structure that is deployed at a treatment site. The prosthetic valve further comprises a valve member configured to be quickly connected to the support structure. The support structure may take the form of a stent that is expanded at the site of a native valve. If desired, the native leaflets may remain and the stent may be used to hold the native valve open. In this case, the stent may be balloon expandable and configured to resist the powerful recoil force of the native leaflets. The support structure is provided with a coupling means for attachment to the valve member, thereby fixing the position of the valve member in the body. The valve member may be a non-expandable type, or may be expandable from a compressed state to an expanded state.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for attaching tissue to bone in a shifted position without requiring surgical detachment of muscle or connective tissue joining the tissue layer to the bone layer. The skin layer is gently pulled in a non-surgical manner and a fastener of the invention is driven through the skin layer into the bone layer to effect a “skin tightening” procedure.

Abstract: The present invention relates to devices and methods for improving the function of a defective heart valve, and particularly for reducing regurgitation through an atrioventricular heart valve—i.e., the mitral valve and the tricuspid valve. For a tricuspid repair, the device includes an anchor deployed in the tissue of the right ventricle, in an orifice opening to the right atrium, or anchored to the tricuspid valve. A flexible anchor rail connects to the anchor and a coaptation element on a catheter rides over the anchor rail. The catheter attaches to the proximal end of the coaptation element, and a locking mechanism fixes the position of the coaptation element relative to the anchor rail. Finally, there is a proximal anchoring feature to fix the proximal end of the coaptation catheter subcutaneously adjacent the subclavian vein. The coaptation element includes an inert covering and helps reduce regurgitation through contact with the valve leaflets.

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: Expandable docking stations for docking an expandable valve can include a valve seat, one or more sealing portions, and one or more retaining portions. The valve seat can be unexpandable or substantially unexpandable beyond a deployed size. The one or more sealing portions are connected to the valve seat and extend radially outward of the valve seat. The one or more sealing portions are constructed to expand outward of the valve seat and provide a seal over a range of sizes. The one or more retaining portions are 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: A method and apparatus for attaching tissue to bone in a shifted position without requiring surgical detachment of muscle or connective tissue joining the tissue layer to the bone layer. The skin and/or soft tissue layer is displaced in a surgical or non-surgical manner and a fastener of the invention is driven through the skin and/or soft tissue layer into the periosteum or bone layer to affect a tissue repositioning procedure. The method and apparatus may also be used to attach tissue to tissue an a shifted position.

Abstract: A two-stage or component-based valve prosthesis that can be quickly and easily implanted during a surgical procedure is provided. The prosthetic valve comprises a support structure that is deployed at a treatment site. The prosthetic valve further comprises a valve member configured to be quickly connected to the support structure. The support structure may take the form of a stent that is expanded at the site of a native valve. If desired, the native leaflets may remain and the stent may be used to hold the native valve open. In this case, the stent may be balloon expandable and configured to resist the powerful recoil force of the native leaflets. The support structure is provided with a coupling means for attachment to the valve member, thereby fixing the position of the valve member in the body. The valve member may be a non-expandable type, or may be expandable from a compressed state to an expanded state.

Abstract: A septal closure and port device for implantation in the atrial septum of a patient's heart comprises an expandable frame can comprise a central portion defining a lumen, and first and second opposing end portions. The frame is configured to 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 further comprise 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 is configured to permit a medical instrument inserted through the lumen and into the left atrium, such as for performing a subsequent medical procedure in the left side of the heart.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are devices, systems, and methods for monitoring blood pressure in the inferior vena cava (IVC) to diagnose acute decompensated heart failure (ADHF). An underlying principle of the disclosed systems and methods is that it is possible to reduce or prevent hospitalization by monitoring blood pressure in the IVC because an increase in IVC pressure is correlated with worsening renal function, causing fluid overload. Accordingly, the disclosed systems and methods monitor renal function by monitoring IVC pressure to detect early signs of ADHF by identifying increases in pressure over time. To monitor pressure in the IVC, a pressure sensor can be implanted in the IVC and can wirelessly transmit sensor data to a monitor device worn by the subject. If a pressure trend exceeds a specified threshold, the monitor device can generate an alert.

Abstract: Prosthetic valve systems for treating a native valve exhibiting regurgitation comprising a support structure in which a separate prosthetic heart valve (THV) can be placed. The support structure can be configured to be positioned at the native valve. After the support structure is deployed at the native valve, a prosthetic valve can be deployed within the support structure. The support structure can comprise a main body formed by formed by a plurality of inner strut members and a plurality of outer strut members, wherein the plurality of inner strut members and the plurality of outer members are coupled together and have gaps located between inner strut members and the outer strut members. Other embodiments are also disclosed.

Abstract: Apparatus, systems, and methods in which a catheter-based pump is used are disclosed. The catheter-based pump is placed within the inferior vena cava of a patient. The catheter-based pump has a variable obstructor, such as a balloon or some other artificial obstruction, which is sized and dimensioned to compartmentalize the inferior vena cava into an upstream region and a downstream region of the inferior vena cava. The catheter-based pump is configured to pump blood from the upstream region to a fluid line that discharges blood to a discharge location in the downstream region. Thus, a suitable pressure gradient across the organ is provided, which can benefit organ function.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are devices and methods for closing a left atrial appendage (LAA) that use an expandable disk having a deployment anchor and a plurality of peripheral hooks. The LAA closure devices are configured to expand to a diameter that is larger than a diameter of the LAA ostium. The deployment anchor attaches the disk to the tissue of the LAA that is everted or invaginated. The expandable disk causes the everted or invaginated LAA to expand and flatten within the left atrium of the heart. The peripheral hooks pierce the tissue of the LAA and engage the left atrial wall to close the LAA predominantly with its own tissue.

Abstract: A stretch-measurement probe includes an elongate outer sleeve, expansion feature associated with a distal portion of the outer sleeve, and an elongate inner rod disposed at least partially within the outer sleeve. The expansion feature is configured to allow a longitudinal distance between a proximal end of the outer sleeve and the distal end of the outer sleeve to be varied.

Abstract: A direct-implantable electrocardiographic (ECG) probe device includes a biocompatible housing, a battery disposed within the housing, one or more electrodes including an ECG electrode configured to sense an electrical signal in tissue of an atrium of a heart, circuitry disposed at least partially within the housing and configured to generate an ECG signal and wirelessly transmit the ECG signal through a chest wall, and an attachment structure configured to facilitate the attachment of the ECG probe device to a surface of the atrium.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatuses for treating a heart are provided. Methods can include obtaining and using an implant. One or more catheters can be used to properly position and attach the implant in a desired location in a chamber of the heart, for example, on a ventricular wall of the left ventricle between one or more papillary muscles of the left ventricle and the annulus. Then a distance along the implant or a region of the heart, for example, between the papillary muscle and the annulus, can be reduced by contracting the implant along its longitudinal axis by applying tension to a contraction member of the implant. Other embodiments are described.

Abstract: A method of restraining expansion of an atrium of a heart involves accessing a heart of a patient, applying a coating over at least a portion of a surface of an atrium of the heart, and at least partially curing the coating to increase the rigidity thereof. Atrial fibrillation prevention.