Delivery devices and methods for heart valve repair

Abstract

Devices, systems and methods facilitate positioning of a cardiac valve annulus treatment device, thus enhancing treatment of the annulus. Methods generally involve advancing an anchor delivery device through vasculature of the patient to a location in the heart for treating the valve annulus, contacting the anchor delivery device with a length of the valve annulus, delivering a plurality of coupled anchors from the anchor delivery device to secure the anchors to the annulus, and drawing the anchors together to circumferentially tighten the valve annulus. Devices generally include an elongate catheter having at least one tensioning member and at least one tensioning actuator for deforming a distal portion of the catheter to help it conform to a valve annulus. The catheter device may be used to navigate a subannular space below a mitral valve to facilitate positioning of an anchor delivery device.

1 - 42 . (canceled) 
     
     
         43 . A device for constricting a valve annulus in a heart, the device comprising:
 a plurality of slidably coupled tissue anchors, each anchor including at least one tissue attachment feature for enhancing attachment of the anchor to valve annulus tissue; and   at least one cinchable tether slidably coupled with at least some of the tissue anchors and fixedly attached to at least a first of the anchors.   
     
     
         44 . A device as in  claim 43 , wherein the at least one attachment feature comprises a porous surface along at least a portion of each anchor. 
     
     
         45 . A device as in  claim 43 , wherein the at least one attachment feature comprises a textured surface along at least a portion of each anchor. 
     
     
         46 . A device as in  claim 43 , wherein the at least one attachment feature comprises a coated surface along at least a portion of each anchor. 
     
     
         47 . A device as in  claim 43 , wherein the at least one attachment feature comprises at least one circular or hooked portion of each anchor having a small radius of
 curvature.   
     
     
         48 . A device as in  claim 43 , wherein the at least one attachment feature comprises a barb at each end of each anchor. 
     
     
         49 - 59 . (canceled)