Stabilizing and adjusting tool for controlling a minimally invasive mitral / tricuspid valve repair system

Abstract

Disclosed herein are embodiments related to a method for performing a minimally invasive procedure, the method including delivering an annuloplasty ring in a linear shape using a delivery system. In some embodiments, the delivery of the annuloplasty ring may utilize a trans-septal approach or a trans-apical. In some embodiments, the delivery system may position the annuloplasty ring using a flexible stabilizing mechanism and/or activate one or more anchors to extend outward from the annuloplasty ring.

1 - 11 . (canceled) 
     
     
         12 . An annuloplasty ring comprising:
 a body member having an elongate insertion geometry and an annular operable geometry and comprising a first end and a second end opposite the first end, wherein the first end is not engaged to the second end in the elongate insertion geometry and the first end and the second end are engaged in the annular operable geometry;   a plurality of anchors housed within the body member in both the elongate insertion geometry and the annular operable geometry; and   one or more attachment features coupled to the body member, wherein each attachment feature comprises two docking posts disposed on opposing sides of the attachment feature, each docking post comprising an aperture configured to receive a deactivation wire.   
     
     
         13 . The annuloplasty ring of  claim 12 , wherein each attachment feature comprises a docking post anchorage that is disposed between the two docking posts, wherein the docking post anchorage is attachable to a flexible stabilizing mechanism. 
     
     
         14 . The annuloplasty ring of  claim 13 , wherein the docking post anchorage comprises an aperture for attaching the flexible stabilizing mechanism. 
     
     
         15 . The annuloplasty ring of  claim 12 , wherein the one or more attachment features are integral with the body member. 
     
     
         16 . The annuloplasty ring of  claim 12 , wherein the one or more attachment features are retractable into the body member. 
     
     
         17 . An annuloplasty ring delivery system comprising:
 a flexible stabilizing mechanism;   a deactivation wire;   an annuloplasty ring comprising:
 a body member having an elongate insertion geometry and an annular operable geometry and comprising a first end and a second end opposite the first end, wherein the first end is not engaged to the second end in the elongate insertion geometry and the first end and the second end are engaged in the annular operable geometry; 
 a plurality of anchors housed within the body member in both the elongate insertion geometry and the annular operable geometry; 
 one or more attachment features coupled to the body member, wherein each attachment feature comprises two docking posts disposed on opposing sides of the attachment feature, each docking post comprising an aperture configured to receive the deactivation wire. 
   
     
     
         18 . The annuloplasty ring delivery system of  claim 17 , wherein each attachment feature comprises a docking post anchorage that is disposed between the two docking posts, wherein the docking post anchorage is attachable to the flexible stabilizing mechanism. 
     
     
         19 . The annuloplasty ring delivery system of  claim 18 , wherein the docking post anchorage comprises an aperture for attaching the flexible stabilizing mechanism. 
     
     
         20 . The annuloplasty ring delivery system of  claim 17 , wherein the one or more attachment features are integral with the body member. 
     
     
         21 . The annuloplasty ring delivery system of  claim 17 , wherein the one or more attachment features are retractable into the body member. 
     
     
         22 . The annuloplasty ring delivery system of  claim 17 , wherein the deactivation wire extends through the apertures of each docking post of each attachment feature, and
 wherein the deactivation wire couples to the flexible stabilizing mechanism.   
     
     
         23 . A method of delivering an annuloplasty ring comprising:
 delivering the annuloplasty ring in a linear shape using a delivery system;   positioning the annuloplasty ring from a linear shape to an annular operable shaped geometry using a flexible stabilizing mechanism,   wherein the annuloplasty ring comprises one or more docking posts, wherein each docking post engages with a distal end of the flexible stabilizing mechanism, and wherein the distal end of the flexible stabilizing mechanism is secured to each docking post by a deactivation wire that slides through two apertures that are disposed on opposing sides of each docking post and the distal end of the flexible stabilizing mechanism to secure the distal end of the flexible stabilizing mechanism to the docking post; and   activating one or more anchors to extend outward from the annuloplasty ring.   
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein the flexible stabilizing mechanism is a unitary body having the distal end, a first proximal end, and a second proximal end. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein the distal end of the flexible stabilizing mechanism is removably attached to the annuloplasty ring. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein positioning of the annuloplasty ring comprises applying a biasing force to at least one of the first proximal end and the second proximal end. 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 23 , further comprising shaping the annuloplasty ring using the flexible stabilizing mechanism prior to delivery. 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein the activating the one or more anchors to extend outward is based on one or more predefined zones on the annuloplasty ring. 
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 23 , retracting the one or more docking posts into the annuloplasty ring. 
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein the annuloplasty ring is implanted at a mitral valve of a patient. 
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein the annuloplasty ring is implanted at a tricuspid valve of a patient.