Devices for treating paravalvular leakage and associated methods

Abstract

An elongate member has a longitudinal axis, and has an elongated configuration in which the elongate member defines (i) a first portion that defines a first-portion folding line, substantially orthogonal to the longitudinal axis, (ii) a second portion that defines a second-portion folding line, substantially parallel to the first-portion folding line, and (iii) an oblique folding line, longitudinally between the first portion and the second portion. The oblique folding line is nonparallel and nonorthogonal to the longitudinal axis. A tensioning member weaves longitudinally along the elongate member such that applying tension to the tensioning member transitions the elongate member toward a folded configuration by folding (i) the first and second portions about their respective folding lines, and (ii) the elongate member about the oblique folding line in a manner that positions the first-portion folding line nonparallel to the second-portion folding line.

1 . An apparatus for use at a heart of a subject, the apparatus comprising:
 an elongate member, having a longitudinal axis, and having an elongated configuration in which the elongate member defines:
 a first portion that defines a first-portion folding line, substantially orthogonal to the longitudinal axis, 
 a second portion that defines a second-portion folding line, substantially parallel to the first-portion folding line, and 
 an oblique folding line, longitudinally between the first portion and the second portion, the oblique folding line being nonparallel and nonorthogonal to the longitudinal axis; and 
   a tensioning member weaving longitudinally along the elongate member such that application of tension to the tensioning member transitions the elongate member toward a folded configuration by folding:
 the first portion about the first-portion folding line, 
 the second portion about the second-portion folding line, and 
 the elongate member about the oblique folding line in a manner that positions the first-portion folding line nonparallel to the second-portion folding line. 
   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein in the folded configuration, the first-portion folding line is substantially orthogonal to the second-portion folding line. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein:
 the first-portion folding line partitions the first portion into a first panel and a second panel, and   in the folded configuration, the first portion is folded about the first-portion folding line such that a surface of the first panel faces a surface of the second panel.   
     
     
         4 . The apparatus according to  claim 3 , wherein:
 the second-portion folding line partitions the second portion into a third panel and a fourth panel, and   in the folded configuration, the second portion is folded about the second-portion folding line such that a surface of the third panel faces a surface of the fourth panel.   
     
     
         5 . The apparatus according to  claim 4 , wherein, in the folded configuration, the elongate member is folded about the oblique folding line such that the first panel lies transversally across the third panel. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus according to  claim 4 , wherein:
 in the elongated configuration, the first, second, third, and fourth panels are colinear on the longitudinal axis, and   in the folded configuration:
 the first and second panels are disposed in a first rotational orientation that is generally transverse to the longitudinal axis, and 
 the second and third panels are disposed in a second rotational orientation that is generally transverse to the longitudinal axis, and that is rotationally offset with respect to the first rotational orientation. 
   
     
     
         7 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the elongate member is a first elongate member of a set of elongate members, the tensioning member weaving longitudinally along each of the elongate members of the set, in series. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus according to  claim 7 , wherein the elongate members of the set are positionable at the heart of the subject such that application of the tension to the tensioning member reduces a distance between at least two of the elongate members of the set. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the oblique folding line is a first oblique folding line, and wherein the elongate member defines a second oblique folding line, longitudinally between the first portion and the second portion, the second oblique folding line being nonparallel and nonorthogonal to the longitudinal axis, and nonparallel to the first oblique folding line. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus according to  claim 9 , wherein the tensioning member weaves longitudinally along the elongate member such that application of the tension to the tensioning member transitions the elongate member toward the folded configuration by further folding the elongate member about the second oblique folding line. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the first-portion folding line is a first first-portion folding line of a plurality of first-portion folding lines defined by the first portion, each first-portion folding line of the plurality of first-portion folding lines being substantially orthogonal to the longitudinal axis. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus according to  claim 11 , wherein, in the folded configuration, the first portion is folded about each first-portion folding line of the plurality of first-portion folding lines. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus according to  claim 11 , wherein, in both the elongated configuration and the folded configuration, the first-portion folding lines of the plurality of first-portion folding lines are substantially parallel to each other. 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus according to  claim 11 , wherein the second-portion folding line is a first second-portion folding line of a plurality of second-portion folding lines defined by the second portion, each second-portion folding line of the plurality of second-portion folding lines being substantially orthogonal to the longitudinal axis. 
     
     
         15 . The apparatus according to  claim 14 , wherein, in both the elongated configuration and the folded configuration, the second-portion folding lines of the plurality of second-portion folding lines are substantially parallel to each other. 
     
     
         16 . The apparatus according to  claim 14 , wherein, in the folded configuration, the second portion folded about each second-portion folding line of the plurality of second-portion folding lines. 
     
     
         17 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , further comprising a catheter, wherein:
 the elongate member is deliverable, via the catheter, towards the heart in the elongated configuration,   the elongate member is positionable at the heart such that the tensioning member extends, from the elongate member, through the catheter and out of the subject, and   the elongate member is transitionable towards the folded configuration via application of the tension to the tensioning member from outside of the subject.   
     
     
         18 . An apparatus for use at a heart of a subject, the apparatus comprising:
 an elongate member having an elongated configuration, wherein in the elongated configuration, the elongate member has a longitudinal axis, and defines:
 a first portion that defines a first-portion folding line, substantially orthogonal to the longitudinal axis, the first-portion folding line partitioning the first portion into a first panel and a second panel, 
 a second portion that defines a second-portion folding line, substantially parallel to the first-portion folding line, the second-portion folding line partitioning the second portion into a third panel and a fourth panel, and 
 an oblique folding line, longitudinally between the first portion and the second portion, the oblique folding line being nonparallel and nonorthogonal to the longitudinal axis; and 
   a tensioning member weaving longitudinally along the elongate member such that application of tension to the tensioning member transitions the elongate member toward a folded configuration by folding:
 the first portion about the first-portion folding line, such that a surface of the first panel faces a surface of the second panel, 
 the second portion about the second-portion folding line, such that a surface of the third panel faces a surface of the fourth panel, and 
 the elongate member about the oblique folding line such that the first panel lies transversally across the third panel.