Valtech Cardio Ltd.

Labstyle Innovation Ltd.

Valtec Cardio, Ltd.

Flow Med Ltd.

Ram Grossfeld

Nir Lilach

Eliahu Eliachar

Amir Gross

Dmitry Golom

Gideon Meyer-Brodnitz

Iftah Beinart

Oz Cabiri

Eran Miller

Arnon Mosaiuf

Yoav Tikochinsky

Frank Schenk

Arnon Mousaiuf

David Damshek

Oren Feurst

Eran Zur

Shilo Ben-Zeev

Ehood Nakash

Gil Tenennbaum

Izak Orbach

Within a delivery passage of a catheter, an elongated and flexible annuloplasty structure is transluminally advanced toward a heart of a subject while the annuloplasty structure is in a substantially linear configuration in which a distal end of the annuloplasty structure is closer than a proximal end of the annuloplasty structure to a distal opening of the catheter. Subsequently, the distal end of the annuloplasty structure is advanced, followed by the proximal end of the annuloplasty structure, out of the catheter and into an atrium of the heart. Within the atrium, the annuloplasty structure is transitioned toward a ring form by the distal end of the annuloplasty structure being brought towards the proximal end of the annuloplasty structure. While the annuloplasty structure remains in the ring form, the annuloplasty structure is placed against tissue of the annulus and is anchored to the tissue.

Implantation of repair devices in the heart

Apparatuses, systems, and devices usable for annuloplasty are provided. These can include an annuloplasty system comprising a segment having a lumen therethrough, the segment being positionable in a vicinity of a surface of a heart valve of a heart. The system can include a tube having a distal portion that is movable through the lumen of the segment and a distal end passable through an opening in the segment that is in fluid communication with the lumen. One or more tissue anchors are deliverable through the tube, the tissue anchor(s) being shaped so as to define a tissue coupling element. The distal portion of the tube can be removably positioned within the lumen of the segment, and, while so positioned, to deploy the tissue coupling element from the distal end of the tube in order to penetrate the tissue coupling element into cardiac tissue. Other embodiments are also described.

Apparatuses and devices usable for annuloplasty are provided. These can include a plurality of tissue anchors and an annuloplasty structure for placement on a heart valve annulus. The annuloplasty structure can include a plurality of compressible or adjustable subunits, and a plurality of anchor mounts alternately disposed with respect to the plurality of compressible/adjustable subunits. The anchor mounts are coupleable to the tissue anchors and can define a path for passage therethrough of a respective tissue anchor. The apparatuses and devices can be independently adjustable and can be adjustable for treating various sizes of patient annuli. Other embodiments are also described.

Apparatuses and devices usable for annuloplasty are provided. These can include a plurality of helical tissue anchors and an annuloplasty structure for placement on a heart valve annulus. The annuloplasty structure can include a plurality of compressible or adjustable subunits, and a plurality of anchor mounts alternately disposed with respect to the plurality of compressible/adjustable subunits. The anchor mounts are coupleable to the helical anchors and can define a path for passage therethrough of a respective helical tissue anchor. The apparatuses and devices can be independently adjustable and can be adjustable for treating various sizes of patient annuli. Other embodiments are also described.

Apparatus is provided, including an intracardiac annuloplasty structure configured for placement on an annulus of a heart valve, a first rotatable ring coupled to the annuloplasty structure and a second rotatable ring coupled to the annuloplasty structure. The first and second rotatable rings are arranged such that the first rotatable ring is rotatable to contract the annuloplasty structure while the second rotatable ring remains stationary, and the second rotatable ring is rotatable to contract the annuloplasty structure while the first rotatable ring remains stationary. Other embodiments are also described.

Apparatus is provided, including a plurality of helical tissue anchors and an intracardiac annuloplasty structure defining a plane for placement on a heart valve annulus. The annuloplasty structure includes a plurality of compressible subunits, and a plurality of anchor mounts alternately disposed with respect to the plurality of compressible subunits. Each anchor mount (a) defines at least one opening for passage therethrough of a respective helical tissue anchor, (b) defines a path for passage therethrough of the helical tissue anchor, the path being aligned along an axis that is at a non-zero angle with respect to the plane of the annuloplasty structure, and (c) provides a structural element in the path for corkscrewing a distal portion of the helical tissue anchor therearound. Other embodiments are also described.

Apparatus is provided, including an intracardiac annuloplasty structure. A first adjustment member has an end at a first location at first portions of the annuloplasty structure that are opposite each other. A second adjustment member has an end at a second location at the second portions of the annuloplasty structure that are opposite each other. The annuloplasty structure, the first-adjustment-member end, and the second-adjustment-member end are disposed within a catheter during delivery. After delivery, the first-adjustment-member end is moveable with respect to the annuloplasty structure toward and away from a plane of the annuloplasty structure to adjust a relative disposition of the first portions, and the second-adjustment-member end is moveable independently of the first-adjustment-member end and with respect to the annuloplasty structure toward and away from the plane to adjust a relative disposition of the second portions. Other embodiments are also described.

A method for performing an annuloplasty includes positioning an annuloplasty ring structure along an atrial surface of an annulus of a heart valve. While a distal portion of a tube is longitudinally advanced through a channel of the ring structure, it faces a first portion of tissue of the annulus. A first tissue anchor is anchored to the first portion of tissue, from within the channel, while the distal end of the tube faces the first portion of the tissue. After moving the distal portion of the tube to a second portion of the structure, the second portion of the structure is anchored to a second portion of tissue by anchoring a second tissue anchor to the second portion of the tissue while the distal end of the tube faces the second portion of the tissue. Other embodiments are also described.

Implant and anchor placement

Apparatus is provided, including a tube () shaped to define a tube lumen at least one implant () reversibly coupled to the tube (), and configured for implantation within a body of a patient. The apparatus also comprises two or more longitudinal guide members () disposed at least in part along a distal portion of the tube (), the longitudinal guide members () having distal portions thereof configured to be reversibly coupled to the implant (), and arranged such that application of a force to a first one of the longitudinal guide members () steers the distal portion of the tube () toward a first location along the implant (), and application of a force to a second one of the longitudinal guide members () steers the distal portion of the tube () toward a second location along the implant (). Other embodiments are also described.

Annuloplasty devices and methods of delivery therefor

Apparatus is provided for repairing a valve of a patient, the valve including an annulus and at least first and second leaflets. The apparatus includes at least a first discrete segment and a second discrete segment of an annuloplasty structure, each segment being shaped to provide a respective lateral wall, each lateral wall being shaped to define at least one lumen of the respective segment. The apparatus further includes at least a first and a second control wire, each control wire configured for sliding advancement through both the first and second segments. The first control wire is configured to control a relative disposition of a first end of the first segment and a first end of the second segment. The second control wire is configured to control a relative disposition of a second end of the first segment and a second end of the second segment. Other embodiments are also described.

Segmented ring placement

Blood glucose cartridge

Glucose meter

Apparatus is provided for repairing a valve of a heart of a patient which includes an annulus and at least first and second leaflets. The apparatus includes an annuloplasty structure, a plurality of tissue anchors, and a plurality of flexible longitudinal guide members removably coupled to the structure. Each of the guide members is configured to facilitate anchoring of the annuloplasty structure to the annulus of the patient by a respective one of the anchors. The guide members are configured to be advanced toward the annulus simultaneously with the annuloplasty structure. Other embodiments are also described.

Growing community of inventors

Haifa, Israel

Ram Grossfeld