Adjustable Heart Valve Implant

Abstract

Systems and methods are provided for repairing a heart valve, such as a mitral, tricuspid or aortic valve, using an adjustable and removable implant that can be delivered to the heart through the apex in a simplified and non-invasive manner. The implant can include a prosthetic valve portion coupled to a proximal end of a shaft, and an anchor portion coupled to a distal end of the shaft. The prosthetic valve can be suspended within an opening of the heart valve while the anchor portion is affixed to the apex of the heart. When the implant is deployed, a distance between the prosthetic valve portion and the anchor portion can be adjusted, and/or the implant or a portion thereof can be rotated to thereby change the position of the prosthetic valve within the heart valve. This can allow correcting for post-implantation movements of the implant to mitigate potential complications.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A system for repairing a heart valve, comprising:
 an outer shaft; and   an implant disposed within the outer shaft, the implant including an inner shaft, a prosthetic valve coupled to a distal end of the inner shaft and having a prosthetic valve body and at least one positioning member, the prosthetic valve being configured to be distally advanced from the outer shaft such that the prosthetic valve moves from an unexpanded configuration, and the at least one positioning member being configured to suspend the prosthetic valve within an opening in tissue, and an anchor portion coupled to a proximal end of the inner shaft and configured to be removably affixed to tissue;   wherein a distance between the prosthetic valve and the anchor portion is adjustable.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the prosthetic valve body comprises prosthetic valve leaflets and the at least one positioning member comprises at least two arms coupled to the prosthetic valve body. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the prosthetic valve body comprises an expandable frame and the at least one positioning member comprises an expandable ring circumferentially disposed at a distal end of the expandable frame. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the anchor portion comprises proximal and distal deployable wings configured to engage tissue therebetween. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the inner shaft comprises at least one tether. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 5 , wherein the at least one tether comprises suture. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 5 , wherein the distance is adjustable by adjusting a length of the at least one tether.