| 摘要 |
Apparatus is provided that includes an annuloplasty system for use on a subject. The system includes an annuloplasty ring, which includes a sleeve having a lumen, and at least one anchor, shaped so as to define a coupling head and a tissue coupling element, which tissue coupling element is shaped so as to define a longitudinal axis, and is configured to penetrate cardiac tissue of the subject in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis. The system further includes an anchor deployment manipulator, configured to be removably positioned within the lumen of the sleeve, and, while so positioned, to deploy the tissue coupling element from a distal end of the deployment manipulator through a wall of the sleeve into the cardiac tissue in the direction parallel to the longitudinal axis of the tissue coupling element and parallel to a central longitudinal axis through the distal end of the deployment manipulator. |
| 主权项 |
1. Apparatus comprising an annuloplasty system for use on a subject, which comprises:
an annuloplasty ring, which comprises a sleeve having a wall defining a lumen that extends longitudinally along a length of the sleeve; an elongated contracting member, which (a) comprises an element selected from the group consisting of: a wire, a ribbon, a rope, a band, and a suture, and (b) extends along at least a portion of the sleeve and is coupled at a location along the contracting member to the sleeve, wherein the elongated contracting member is arranged to contract the annuloplasty ring by pulling on the sleeve; a steerable tube, which is configured to provide steering functionality; at least one anchor, which is shaped so as to define a tissue coupling element; and an anchor deployment manipulator, which (a) is removably positioned within the lumen of the sleeve, (b) is configured, while positioned in the lumen, to deploy the tissue coupling element through the wall of the sleeve into cardiac tissue of the subject, and (c) comprises (i) an outer anchor driver tube, and (ii) an anchor driver, which is at least partially positioned within the outer anchor driver tube and comprises an elongated, flexible shaft, wherein the outer anchor driver tube is at least partially positioned within the steerable tube, such that a portion of the sleeve is radially between the outer anchor driver tube and the steerable tube, and wherein the annuloplasty system is arranged such that the anchor driver is configured to introduce the at least one anchor into the lumen of the sleeve while the sleeve is at least partially positioned within the steerable tube and while the outer anchor driver tube is positioned in the sleeve. |
