APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR HEART VALVE REPAIR

摘要

A transcatheter method of gathering tissue of a heart valve leaflet may include inserting an elongated catheter assembly (12) to a position adjacent the heart valve leaflet, the catheter assembly including a capture tool (22) moveable between a retracted position and an extended position, a tissue support (40), and a clamping member (30) moveable between an open position and a closed position. The capture tool may be partially retracted to gather tissue of the heart valve leaflet between the tissue support and the clamping member. The clamping member may then be moved from the open position toward the closed position so as to clamp a substantial portion of the gathered tissue of the heart valve leaflet between the tissue support and the clamping member. Subsequently, a clip (55) may be applied from the catheter assembly to the clamped tissue so as to hold the clamped tissue substantially in a gathered configuration.