Implantable device and delivery system for reshaping a heart valve annulus

Abstract

Systems, devices and methods related to various heart valve implants and for delivery of those heart valve implants are described. The implants may be used to re-size a native valve annulus or to replace a native heart valve. The implants include a re-sizable frame having angled struts. Anchors secure the implant to tissue and collars are used to decrease the angle between the struts and contract the frame. The implant thus expands from a first size inside of a delivery catheter, to a second and larger deployed size inside the heart to engage and anchor with the tissue, and then to a third and contracted size to re-size the annulus and/or provide a secure fit for a replacement heart valve. Various delivery systems including imaging capabilities for precise delivery, positioning and anchoring of the various implants are further described.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A system for adjusting the configuration of cardiac tissue, said system comprising:
 an implantable device; and   an imaging device deliverable with said implantable device to cardiac tissue, said imaging device comprising a distal end configured to be positioned adjacent said implantable device and to capture one or more images of the position of the implantable device relative to the cardiac tissue.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said implantable device is tubular and said imaging device is configured to be delivered within the tubular implantable device. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 3 , wherein said imaging device is centered within said tubular implantable device. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said imaging device is rotatable with respect to said implantable device to view different features of said implantable device relative to different locations along the cardiac tissue. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 4 , wherein said imaging device is axially movable with respect to said implantable device to view different features of said implantable device relative to different locations along the cardiac tissue. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said imaging device is axially movable with respect to said implantable device to view different features of said implantable device relative to different locations along the cardiac tissue. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , further including an indexing feature actuatable to cause said imaging device to move with respect to said implantable device. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said imaging device is an imaging catheter. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said implantable device is configured to replace a heart valve and includes a replacement valve. 
     
     
         10 . A delivery system for delivering an implantable device to cardiac tissue, said delivery system comprising:
 a delivery catheter configured to deliver an implantable device to cardiac tissue; and   an imaging device comprising a distal end configured to be positioned adjacent said implantable device during delivery of the implantable device, and to capture one or more images of the position of the implantable device relative to the cardiac tissue.   
     
     
         11 . The delivery system of  claim 10 , wherein said imaging device is integrated into said delivery system. 
     
     
         12 . The delivery system of  claim 10 , wherein said imaging device is delivered via a non-central lumen of said delivery catheter. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein said imaging device is an imaging catheter. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein said imaging device is an intravascular cardiac echography catheter or an ultrasound catheter. 
     
     
         15 . A method for imaging repair of cardiac tissue, said method comprising:
 delivering an implantable device to cardiac tissue along with an imaging device;   viewing features of the implant and the cardiac tissue with the imaging device; and   implanting the implantable device with respect to the cardiac tissue.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising maintaining the position of the imaging device relative to the implantable device during deployment, positioning, and implanting of the implantable device with respect to cardiac tissue. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising rotating the imaging device to obtain multiple views of the implantable device and/or the cardiac tissue. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising axially moving the imaging device to obtain multiple views of the implantable device and/or the cardiac tissue. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising delivering at least one of the implantable device or the imaging device transeptally. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein implanting the implantable device comprises replacing a heart valve with the implantable device.