Delivery system for a heart valve support device
Devices for assisting with the functioning of a tricuspid valve of a heart include a shaft, a flow optimizer, and an anchoring mechanism. A tilting mechanism can be configured to tilt the shaft relative to a central axis of the anchoring mechanism. Leaflets (e.g., multi-layer leaflets) of the flow optimizer can include a membrane and a rim, and the rim can have a higher stiffness than the membrane. A delivery system can be configured to deliver the device and adjust the position of the flow optimizer with respect to the anchoring mechanism.
1 . A method for positioning a device for assisting with functioning of a valve of a heart comprising:
advancing a flexible member through a delivery shaft until it butts up against a shaft of the device;
axially translating the flexible member, to adjust a height of a flow optimizer fixed to the shaft relative to an anchoring assembly of the device; and
fixing the shaft to the anchoring assembly, thereby fixing the position of the flow optimizer relative to the shaft, further comprising retracting the delivery shaft to expose arms of the device.
2 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising expanding an arm of the device by loosening an arm loop, the arm loop extending through the delivery shaft to the device, looping around the arm, and returning to a loop control portion of a handle.
3 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising contracting an arm of the device by tightening an arm loop, the arm loop extending through the handle to the device, looping around the arm, and returning to a loop control portion of a handle.
4 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising navigating a steerable catheter through the catheter, the steerable catheter having a distal section comprising a distal portion, a midportion, and a proximal portion.
5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein fixing the shaft to the anchoring assembly comprises screwing a fastener into a ball joint connecting the anchoring assembly to the shaft, wherein screwing the fastener comprises advancing a torqueing tube through the delivery shaft and to the faster, further comprising engaging the torqueing tube to the fastener using an interference fit, further comprising locking the torqueing tube to the fastener by advancing an outer member over the engaged torqueing tube and fastener.
6 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising removing a wire connecting the handle to the device after confirming proper positioning of the device.
7 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the advancing and/or the axially translating is performed using a lead screw.
8 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the advancing and/or the axially translating comprises sliding one or more components along a rail.
9 . A method for positioning a device for assisting with functioning of a valve of a heart comprising:
advancing a flexible member through a delivery shaft until it butts up against a shaft of the device;
axially translating the flexible member, to adjust a height of a flow optimizer fixed to the shaft relative to an anchoring assembly of the device; and
fixing the shaft to the anchoring assembly, thereby fixing the position of the flow optimizer relative to the shaft, further comprising navigating a steerable catheter through the catheter, the steerable catheter having a distal section comprising a distal portion, a midportion, and a proximal portion, further comprising deflecting the distal portion in a first direction and amount, the midportion in a second direction and amount, and the proximal portion in a third direction and amount, wherein the first, second, and third directions and amounts are different from one another.