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 . A catheter assembly comprising:
 a guide sheath having a guide sheath axis; an elongate device slidably extendable within the guide sheath, the elongate device having an elongate device axis; the guide sheath comprising a sheath orientation portion placeable in a chosen shape; and the elongate device comprising a device orientation portion placeable in said chosen shape; whereby the chosen shape of the sheath and device orientation portions tend to cause the sheath and device orientation portions to assume complementary rotary orientations when the sheath and device orientation portions are axially aligned.   
     
     
         2 . The catheter assembly according to  claim 1  wherein at least a chosen one of the guide sheath and elongate device are steerable. 
     
     
         3 . The catheter assembly according to  claim 1  wherein the sheath orientation portion is located at a distal end of the guide sheath. 
     
     
         4 . The catheter assembly according to  claim 1  wherein the device orientation portion is located at a position spaced apart from a distal end of the elongate device. 
     
     
         5 . The catheter assembly according to  claim 1  wherein said chosen shape comprises a first curved portion and a second curved portion. 
     
     
         6 . The catheter assembly according to  claim 1  wherein said chosen shape comprises a first curved portion in a first plane and a second curved portion in a second plane. 
     
     
         7 . The catheter assembly according to  claim 1  wherein said chosen shape comprises a first curved portion in a first plane and a second curved portion in a second plane, said first and second planes being different planes. 
     
     
         8 . The catheter assembly according to  claim 1  wherein the sheath orientation portion assumes the chosen shape when in a relaxed state. 
     
     
         9 . The catheter assembly according to  claim 1  wherein the sheath and device orientation portions each assume the chosen shape when in a relaxed state.