Method and apparatus for circulatory valve repair

Abstract

An apparatus for the repair of a cardiovascular valve has leaflets comprising a grasper capable of grabbing and co-apting the leaflets of the valve. In a preferred embodiment, the grasper has jaws that grasp and immobilize the leaflets, and then a fastener is inserted to co-apt the leaflets. The apparatus is particularly useful for repairing mitral valves to cure mitral regurgitation.

What is claimed: 
     
         1 - 12 . (canceled) 
     
     
         13 . A medical device for fastening cardiac valve leaflets, comprising
 a percutaneous catheter having opposing distal and proximal ends, and   a deployable clip having first and second jaw elements moveable between an open and closed configuration, wherein the deployable clip is detachably engaged to the distal end of the percutaneous catheter.   
     
     
         14 . The medical device as in  claim 13 , wherein at least one of the first and second jaw elements include one or more barbs extending from a surface. 
     
     
         15 . The medical device as in  claim 13 , wherein the first and second jaw elements are arranged in a substantially U-shaped configuration when in an open configuration. 
     
     
         16 . The medical device as in  claim 13 , wherein the movable jaw elements are capable of fastening together cardiac valve leaflets when in the closed configuration. 
     
     
         17 . The medical device as in  claim 13 , wherein the cardiac valve leaflets are part of the aortic or mitral valve of a subject. 
     
     
         18 . The medical device as in  claim 13 , wherein the first jaw element is pivotably connected to the second jaw element. 
     
     
         19 . The medical device as in  claim 13 , wherein the first and second jaw elements include suction elements. 
     
     
         20 . A medical device for fastening cardiac valve leaflets, comprising
 a percutaneous catheter having a distal and proximal ends,   a deployable clip having a stationary first jaw element pivotably engaged to a moveable second jaw element, wherein the deployable clip is detachably engaged to the distal end of the percutaneous catheter.   
     
     
         21 . The medical device of  claim 20 , wherein the moveable second jaw element pivots toward the stationary jaw element when actuated. 
     
     
         22 . The medical device of  claim 20 , wherein at least one of the jaw elements include a barb extending from a surface. 
     
     
         23 . The medical device of  claim 20 , wherein each of the first and second jaw elements have laterally inwardly extending barbs. 
     
     
         24 . A method of treating a subject having a cardiac valve condition, the method of treatment comprising:
 introducing a medical device including a deployable clip having movable first and second jaw elements into a subject;   positioning the deployable clip in proximity to the cardiac valve leaflets, wherein the movable first and second jaw elements are disposed about the cardiac valve leaflets in a first open position,   actuating the moveable first and second jaw elements to a closed position to physically fasten together the cardiac valve leaflets between the first and second jaw elements, and   deploying the clip from the medical device.   
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein the cardiac valve condition is mitral valve prolapse. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein the cardiac condition is mitral regurgitation. 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 24  wherein cardiac valve leaflets are mitral valve leaflets, and further wherein the mitral valve leaflets are permanently fastened. 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein the cardiac condition is aortic valve insufficiency. 
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 24  wherein cardiac valve leaflets are aortic valve leaflets, and further wherein the cardiac valve leaflets are permanently fastened. 
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 24  wherein the medical device is introduced into the subject transvenously and the deployable clip enter the left atrium through the interatrial septum. 
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein the medical device is introduced into the subject through a femoral artery and is advanced percutaneously to the heart. 
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein the deployable clip includes first and second jaw elements in a U-shaped configuration when in open.