Tissue anchor for annuloplasty device
An apparatus including an implant configured to be coupled to cardiac tissue of a patient, the implant including a sleeve; a spool coupled to the implant; a flexible contracting member coupled to the spool and the sleeve such that winding the contracting member around the spool tightens the contracting member; and a tissue anchor including a distal tissue coupling element configured to couple the tissue anchor to the cardiac tissue of the patient; and a proximal implant-receiving element configured to receive at least a portion of the implant and facilitate coupling of the implant to the tissue anchor; and a proximal implant-receiving element including an implant-restraining element coupled to a portion of the implant-receiving element, the implant-restraining element being configured to restrain the implant from separating from the implant-receiving element.
1. Apparatus, comprising:
an implant configured to be coupled to cardiac tissue of a patient, the implant comprising:
a sleeve;
a spool coupled to the sleeve; and
a flexible contracting member that is coupled to the spool and to the sleeve, such that winding the contracting member around the spool tightens the contracting member; and
a tissue anchor comprising:
a distal tissue coupling element configured to couple the tissue anchor to the cardiac tissue of the patient; and
a proximal implant-receiving element configured to receive at least a portion of the implant and facilitate coupling of the implant to the tissue anchor, the proximal implant-receiving element comprising:
an implant-restraining element being configured to restrain the implant from separating from the proximal implant-receiving element; and
an elastic portion that is configured to assume a first length when relaxed, and a second, greater length when under load; wherein, the implant-restraining element and the elastic portion restricts proximal movement of the implant along the proximal implant-receiving element.
2. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the implant comprises an annuloplasty device.
3. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the proximal implant-receiving element comprises a post.
4. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the comprises one or more arms that are radially expandable to rest against an external surface of the implant following coupling of the implant to the proximal implant-receiving element.
5. The apparatus according to claim 4 , wherein the one or more arms are radially collapsible during at least a portion of the coupling of the implant to the proximal implant-receiving element.
6. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the elastic portion comprises a tension spring.
7. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the proximal implant-receiving element has a length of between 3 and 5 mm when the elastic portion is relaxed.
8. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the implant-restraining element comprises a protrusion configured to protrude into a plane of the implant and to couple the implant to the tissue anchor.
9. The apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising a cord removably coupleable to the tissue anchor, the cord being configured to facilitate passage of the implant therealong and toward the tissue anchor.
10. The apparatus according to claim 9 , wherein the cord passes through a portion of the proximal implant-receiving element.