Method to reduce mitral regurgitation

Abstract

A system is for use at a heart valve having an annulus and leaflets coupled to the annulus. The system comprises a tensile member, and first and second anchors, each anchor comprising multiple flat, flexible anchor elements. The system further comprises one or more catheters, configured to (i) transluminally anchor the first anchor and the second anchor to the annulus across the valve from each other such that the tensile member extends from the first anchor, over at least one of the leaflets, to the second anchor, and (ii) subsequently, apply tension to the tensile member by sliding the tensile member through the first anchor in a manner that (a) for each of the first and second anchors, draws the anchor elements together and against the annulus, and (b) draws the first anchor and the second anchor toward each other. Other embodiments are also described.

1 - 31 . (canceled) 
     
     
         32 . A system for use at a valve of a heart of a subject, the valve having an annulus and leaflets coupled to the annulus, the system comprising:
 a first anchor, comprising multiple flat, flexible anchor elements;   a second anchor, comprising multiple flat, flexible anchor elements;   a tensile member; and   one or more catheters, configured to:
 transluminally anchor the first anchor and the second anchor to the annulus across the valve from each other such that the tensile member extends from the first anchor, over at least one of the leaflets, to the second anchor, and 
 subsequently, apply tension to the tensile member by sliding the tensile member through the first anchor in a manner that:
 for each of the first and second anchors, draws the anchor elements together and against the annulus, and 
 draws the first anchor and the second anchor toward each other. 
 
   
     
     
         33 . The system according to  claim 32 , wherein, for each of the first and second anchors, the anchor elements are coupled to each other by the tensile member. 
     
     
         34 . The system according to  claim 32 , wherein the one or more catheters are configured to slide the second anchor along the tensile member toward the first anchor prior to anchoring the second anchor. 
     
     
         35 . The system according to  claim 32 , wherein the one or more catheters are configured to slide the second anchor along the tensile member toward the first anchor subsequently to anchoring the second anchor. 
     
     
         36 . The system according to  claim 32 , wherein the tensile member is a suture. 
     
     
         37 . The system according to  claim 32 , wherein the tensile member is a wire. 
     
     
         38 . The system according to  claim 32 , wherein, for each of the first and second anchors:
 the one or more catheters are configured to anchor the anchor to the annulus by deploying a first subset of the anchor elements on an upstream side of the annulus and a second subset of the anchor elements on a downstream side of the annulus, and   the anchor is configured such that the tensioning of the tensile member:
 draws the first subset of the anchor elements toward each other and against the upstream side of the annulus, and 
 draws the second subset of the anchor elements toward each other and against the downstream side of the annulus. 
   
     
     
         39 . The system according to  claim 32 , wherein the valve is a mitral valve of the heart, and the one or more catheters are configured to:
 transluminally anchor the first anchor to an anterior annulus of the mitral valve, and   transluminally anchor the second anchor to a posterior annulus of the mitral valve.   
     
     
         40 . The system according to  claim 39 , wherein the one or more catheters are configured to anchor the second anchor to the posterior annulus by anchoring the second anchor to a P 1  region of the posterior annulus. 
     
     
         41 . The system according to  claim 39 , wherein the one or more catheters are configured to anchor the second anchor to the posterior annulus by anchoring the second anchor to a P 2  region of the posterior annulus. 
     
     
         42 . The system according to  claim 39 , wherein the one or more catheters are configured to anchor the second anchor to the posterior annulus by anchoring the second anchor to a P 3  region of the posterior annulus. 
     
     
         43 . The system according to  claim 32 , wherein each of the anchor elements is formed from a fabric material. 
     
     
         44 . The system according to  claim 43 , wherein the fabric comprises a polyester. 
     
     
         45 . The system according to  claim 32 , further comprising a locker, the one or more catheters being configured to lock the tension in the tensile member by locking the lock to the tensile member. 
     
     
         46 . The system according to  claim 45 , wherein the one or more catheters are configured to transluminally slide the lock along the tensile member toward the second anchor prior to locking the lock. 
     
     
         47 . The system according to  claim 46 , wherein the one or more catheters are configured to lock the lock to the tensile member while the lock is positioned at the second anchor. 
     
     
         48 . The system according to  claim 45 , wherein the one or more catheters are configured to lock the lock to the tensile member at an upstream side of the valve. 
     
     
         49 . The system according to  claim 45 , wherein the one or more catheters are configured to lock the lock to the tensile member at a downstream side of the valve.