Devices, systems, and methods for treating conditions of the heart
Devices for treating a native valve annulus are disclosed herein. In some examples, the present technology includes a device comprising a plurality of arms configured to move independently of one another and a coupler coupled to the arms and configured to move relative to the arms. The device can further include a plurality of anchors, each carried by the distal portion of one of the arms and configured to engage tissue at or proximate the annulus. When the device is in a deployed configuration such that the arms extend axially and radially away from the coupler, movement of the coupler relative to the arms may decrease a circumferential distance between at least some of the anchors.
1 . A device for treating a native valve annulus, the device comprising:
a plurality of arms, each having a proximal portion and a distal portion, wherein the plurality of arms are configured to translate independently of one another;
a coupler coupled to the plurality of arms and configured to move relative to the plurality of arms; and
a plurality of anchors, each carried by the distal portion of one of the plurality of arms and configured to engage tissue at or proximate the native valve annulus,
wherein, when the device is in a deployed configuration such that the plurality of arms extend axially and radially away from the coupler, movement of the coupler relative to the plurality of arms decreases a circumferential distance between at least some of the plurality of anchors.
2 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the coupler is configured to translate and/or rotate relative to the plurality of arms.
3 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of arms are configured to rotate independently of one another.
4 . The device of claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of arms includes one or more locking elements, and wherein movement of the coupler relative to the plurality of arms causes the coupler to engage at least some of the locking elements on at least some of the plurality of arms, thereby fixing an axial position of each of the plurality of arms relative to the other plurality of arms and/or the coupler.
5 . The device of claim 1 , wherein, when the plurality of arms are in a deployed configuration, movement of the coupler relative to the plurality of arms decreases an angle between adjacent arms of the plurality of arms.
6 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of arms comprises at least three arms.
7 . The device of claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of anchors is detachably coupled to one of the plurality of arms such that, upon completion of treatment, the coupler and the plurality of arms are removed from the patient while the plurality of anchors are left implanted at the native valve annulus.
8 . The device of claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of anchors is attached to a single arm.
9 . The device of claim 1 , further comprising a suture coupled to the plurality of anchors.
10 . The device of claim 1 , wherein some or all of the plurality of arms comprise at least one of a tube, a solid rod, or a ribbon.
11 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the native valve annulus is a cardiac valve annulus, and wherein the device is configured to be percutaneously delivered proximate to and above the cardiac valve annulus such that the plurality of anchors are implanted in the annular cardiac tissue just above the plane of the valve orifice.
12 . A device for treating a native valve annulus, the device comprising:
a plurality of arms, each having a proximal portion and a distal portion, wherein the arms are configured to translate relative to one another;
a coupler coupled to the plurality of arms and configured to move relative to the plurality of arms, wherein each of the plurality of arms has a first length proximal to the coupler and a second length distal to the coupler, and wherein the distal portions of each of the plurality of arms are not coupled to another one of the plurality of arms such that the second lengths of the plurality of arms are cantilevered from the coupler; and
a plurality of anchors, each carried by the distal portion of one of the plurality of arms and configured to engage tissue at or proximate the native valve annulus,
wherein, when the device is in a deployed configuration such that the second lengths of the plurality of arms extend axially and radially away from the coupler, movement of the coupler relative to the plurality of arms decreases a circumferential distance between at least some of the plurality of anchors.
13 . The device of claim 12 , wherein the plurality of arms are configured to rotate independently of one another.
14 . The device of claim 12 , wherein the coupler is configured to translate and/or rotate relative to the plurality of arms.
15 . The device of claim 12 , wherein each of the plurality of arms includes one or more locking elements, and wherein movement of the coupler relative to the plurality of arms causes the coupler to engage at least some of the locking elements on at least some of the plurality of arms, thereby fixing an axial position of each of the plurality of arms relative to the other arms of the plurality of arms and/or the coupler.
16 . The device of claim 12 , wherein, when the plurality of arms are in a deployed configuration, movement of the coupler relative to the plurality of arms decreases an angle between adjacent arms of the plurality of arms.
17 . The device of claim 12 , wherein the plurality of arms comprises at least three arms.
18 . The device of claim 12 , wherein each of the plurality of anchors is detachably coupled to one of the plurality of arms such that, upon completion of treatment, the coupler and the plurality of arms are removed from the patient while the plurality of anchors are left implanted at the native valve annulus.
19 . The device of claim 12 , wherein each of the plurality of anchors is attached to a single arm.
20 . The device of claim 12 , wherein the native valve annulus is a cardiac valve annulus, and wherein the device is configured to be percutaneously delivered proximate to and above the cardiac valve annulus such that the plurality of anchors are implanted in the annular cardiac tissue just above the plane of the valve orifice.