Deployment techniques for annuloplasty ring and over-wire rotation tool

1. Apparatus for use with a subject, comprising:

an implant comprising:

(a) an adjustable partial annuloplasty ring comprising a sleeve having proximal and distal ends, the sleeve defining a lumen;

(b) a contracting mechanism which comprises a housing, which housing is disposed at an outer surface of the ring, wherein the distal end of the sleeve closes the lumen, and the housing is disposed entirely outside the lumen of the sleeve; and

(c) an elongated contracting member, a first end portion of the elongated contracting member being coupled to the contracting mechanism and being disposed within the housing, and a second end portion of the elongated contracting member being coupled to the ring,

wherein the contracting mechanism comprises a driving interface that is positioned so as to be accessible from outside the ring, and

wherein the contracting mechanism is configured such that rotation of the driving interface contracts the implant by tightening the elongated contracting member.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising:

at least one anchor; and

an anchor deployment manipulator, configured to be removably positioned within the lumen of the sleeve, and, while so positioned, to deploy the anchor from a distal end of the deployment manipulator through a wall of the sleeve, by penetrating the wall of the sleeve, into tissue of the subject.

3. The apparatus according to claim 2 , wherein the at least one anchor comprises a plurality of anchors comprising between 5 and 20 anchors.

4. The apparatus according to claim 2 , wherein:

the at least one anchor is 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; and

the anchor deployment manipulator is configured to deploy the tissue coupling element in the direction parallel to the longitudinal axis of the tissue coupling element and parallel to a central longitudinal axis of the deployment manipulator through the distal end of the deployment manipulator.

5. The apparatus according to claim 4 , wherein the deployment manipulator is configured to deploy the at least one anchor from the distal end of the deployment manipulator through the wall of the sleeve into the cardiac tissue, while the distal end of the deployment manipulator is positioned such that the central longitudinal axis through the distal end of the deployment manipulator forms an angle of between 45 and 90 degrees with the wall of the sleeve at a point at which the anchor penetrates the wall.

6. The apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising a longitudinal guide member reversibly coupled to the contracting mechanism, wherein the guide member is configured to guide a tool configured to engage the contracting mechanism.

7. The apparatus according to claim 6 , wherein a portion of the guide member is looped through a portion of the contracting mechanism in a manner in which both ends of the guide member extend outside a body of the subject.

8. The apparatus according to claim 6 , wherein a distal portion of the guide member is shaped so as to define a screw thread, and wherein the contracting mechanism is shaped so as to define a threaded opening, into which the distal portion of the guide member is screwed so as to removably couple the guide member to the contracting mechanism.

9. The apparatus according to claim 6 , wherein the contracting mechanism comprises a locking mechanism, wherein the guide member is shaped so as to define a distal force applicator, which is configured to unlock the locking mechanism when the guide member is coupled to the contracting mechanism, thereby allowing actuation of the contracting mechanism.

10. The apparatus according to claim 6 , wherein the guide member comprises a wire, and wherein the tool is configured to be advanced toward the contracting mechanism along the wire.

11. The apparatus according to claim 6 , wherein the guide member comprises a tube, and wherein the tool is configured to be advanced toward the contracting mechanism through the tube.

12. The apparatus according to claim 6 , wherein the contracting mechanism comprises a rotatable structure, and wherein the tool is configured to engage the rotatable structure, and to rotate the rotatable structure in response to a rotational force applied to the tool.

13. The apparatus according to claim 12 , wherein the rotatable structure comprises a spool, wherein rotation of the spool winds a portion of the contracting member around the spool, and wherein the tool is configured to engage and rotate the spool.

14. The apparatus according to claim 12 , wherein the tool comprises a screwing tool, which comprises a head and a shaft, and wherein the screwing tool is configured to be guided along the longitudinal guide member, such that the head is removably coupled to the driving interface of the contracting mechanism.

15. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the housing is disposed at a portion of the outer surface of the ring that is intermediate the proximal and distal ends of the sleeve.

16. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the contracting mechanism comprises a rotatable structure.

17. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the housing is disposed at a portion of the outer surface of the ring that is in a vicinity of the distal end of the sleeve.

18. Apparatus for use with a subject, comprising:

an implant comprising:

(a) an adjustable partial annuloplasty ring comprising a sleeve having proximal and distal ends, the sleeve defining a lumen;

(b) a contracting mechanism which comprises a housing, which housing is disposed at an outer surface of the ring, wherein the distal end of the sleeve closes the lumen, and the housing is disposed entirely outside the lumen of the sleeve; and

(c) an elongated contracting member, a first end portion of the elongated contracting member being coupled to the contracting mechanism and being disposed within the housing, and a second end portion of the elongated contracting member being coupled to the ring,

wherein the contracting mechanism comprises a driving interface that is positioned so as to be accessible from outside the ring, and

wherein the contracting mechanism is configured such that actuation of the driving interface contracts the implant by tightening the elongated contracting member.

19. The apparatus according to claim 18 , wherein the contracting mechanism comprises a rotatable structure.

20. The apparatus according to claim 18 , wherein the housing is disposed at a portion of the outer surface of the ring that is in a vicinity of the distal end of the sleeve.

21. A method, comprising:

providing:

an implant including:

(a) an adjustable partial annuloplasty ring including a sleeve having proximal and distal ends, the sleeve defining a lumen;

(b) a contracting mechanism which includes a housing, which housing is disposed at an outer surface of the ring, wherein the distal end of the sleeve closes the lumen, and the housing is disposed entirely outside the lumen of the sleeve; and

(c) an elongated contracting member, a first end portion of the elongated contracting member being coupled to the contracting mechanism and being disposed within the housing, and a second end portion of the elongated contracting member being coupled to the ring;

accessing an interface of the contracting mechanism from the outer surface of the ring; and

actuating the interface of the contracting mechanism and by the actuating, contracting the implant by tightening the elongated contracting member.

22. A method, comprising:

providing:

an implant including:

(a) an adjustable partial annuloplasty ring including a sleeve having proximal and distal ends, the sleeve defining a lumen;

(b) a contracting mechanism which includes a housing, which housing is disposed at an outer surface of the ring, wherein the distal end of the sleeve closes the lumen, and the housing is disposed entirely outside the lumen of the sleeve; and

(c) an elongated contracting member, a first end portion of the elongated contracting member being coupled to the contracting mechanism and being disposed within the housing, and a second end portion of the elongated contracting member being coupled to the ring;

accessing an interface of the contracting mechanism from the outer surface of the ring; and

rotating the interface of the contracting mechanism and by the rotating, contracting the implant by tightening the elongated contracting member.