Techniques for securing prosthetic valves using helical anchors

Abstract

A distal portion of a catheter is transluminally advanced to a heart of a subject. Via an atrium of the heart, a ventricular anchor-helix is transluminally advanced out of the distal portion of the catheter to a ventricular site in a ventricle of the heart. An atrial anchor-helix is transluminally advanced out of the distal portion of the catheter to an atrial site. A prosthetic valve, in a compressed state thereof, is transluminally delivered to a mitral valve of the heart. The prosthetic valve is expanded at the mitral valve and held in place using the ventricular anchor-helix and the atrial anchor-helix, such that an upstream portion of the prosthetic valve is disposed in the atrium, and a downstream portion of the prosthetic valve is disposed in the ventricle. Other embodiments are also described.

1 - 45 . (canceled) 
     
     
         46 . A method for use at a mitral valve disposed between an atrium and a ventricle of a heart of a subject, the method comprising:
 transluminally advancing a distal portion of a catheter to the heart;   transluminally advancing, via the atrium, a ventricular anchor-helix out of the distal portion of the catheter to a ventricular site;   transluminally advancing an atrial anchor-helix out of the distal portion of the catheter to an atrial site;   transluminally delivering, to the mitral valve, a prosthetic valve in a compressed state thereof; and   expanding the prosthetic valve at the mitral valve and holding the prosthetic valve in place using the ventricular anchor-helix and the atrial anchor-helix, such that an upstream portion of the prosthetic valve is disposed in the atrium, and a downstream portion of the prosthetic valve is disposed in the ventricle.   
     
     
         47 . The method according to  claim 46 , wherein transluminally advancing the atrial anchor-helix out of the distal portion of the catheter to the atrial site comprises using a tool, extended out of the distal end of the catheter, to transluminally advance the atrial anchor-helix to the atrial site. 
     
     
         48 . The method according to  claim 47 , further comprising guiding the tool within the heart by sliding the tool over and along an elongated flexible member. 
     
     
         49 . The method according to  claim 46 , wherein delivering the prosthetic valve comprises delivering the prosthetic valve subsequently to advancing the ventricular anchor-helix to the ventricular site. 
     
     
         50 . The method according to  claim 46 , wherein advancing the atrial anchor-helix to the atrial site comprises advancing the atrial anchor-helix to the atrial site subsequently to delivering the prosthetic valve.