TRANSCATHETER DEVICE FOR TREATING TRICUSPID VALVE REGURGITATION

1 . A method of treating tricuspid valve regurgitation in a patient's heart, comprising:

having a transcatheter device comprising (i)-(iv) below;

(i) a main shaft;

(ii) a proximal portion comprising a proximal segment of the main shaft and an intravascular anchor;

(iii) a distal tail comprising a distal portion of the main shaft;

(iv) a spacer body mounted on the main shaft and located between the proximal segment of the main shaft and the distal tail;

inserting the transcatheter device into a femoral vein;

advancing the transcatheter device through an inferior vena cava;

advancing the transcatheter device through a right atrium of the heart;

advancing the transcatheter device across a tricuspid valve and into a right ventricle of the heart;

advancing the transcatheter device towards a pulmonary artery;

advancing the distal tail into the pulmonary artery for a distance of at least 10 cm into the pulmonary artery;

positioning the spacer body between leaflets of the tricuspid valve;

lodging the intravascular anchor within the inferior vena cava.

2 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising positioning the spacer body to abut against a supraventricular crest of the heart.

3 . The method of claim 2 , wherein the abutting against the supraventricular crest occurs at a location within the distal half of the spacer body.

4 . The method of claim 2 , wherein the tricuspid valve has a tricuspid annulus and there is an annular plane defined for the tricuspid annulus;

wherein the annular plane is along an x-axis of the tricuspid annulus and orthogonal to a Y-axis of the tricuspid annulus;

wherein the spacer body is positioned at an oblique angle relative to the annular plane.

5 . The method of claim 2 , wherein the main shaft comprises a lumen, and the method further comprises:

inserting a guidewire into the femoral vein;

advancing the guidewire through the inferior vena cava;

advancing the guidewire through the right atrium;

advancing the guidewire to traverse the tricuspid valve and into the right ventricle;

introducing the guidewire into the lumen of the shaft;

advancing the transcatheter device over the guidewire.

6 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the distal tail is advanced past a first branching point of the pulmonary artery.

7 . The method of claim 6 , wherein the distal tail is advanced past a second branching point of the pulmonary artery.

8 . The method of claim 7 , wherein the distal tail of the transcatheter device is advanced past a third branching point of the pulmonary artery.

9 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the distal tail of the transcatheter device is advanced a least 15 cm into the pulmonary artery.

10 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the spacer body has an opening through which blood flows through the spacer body.

11 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the pulmonary artery is a left-side pulmonary artery.

12 . A transcatheter device comprising:

a main shaft;

a proximal portion comprising a proximal segment of the main shaft and an intravascular anchor;

a distal tail comprising a distal portion of the main shaft, wherein the distal tail has a length in the range of 10-40 cm long;

a spacer body mounted on the main shaft and located between the proximal segment of the main shaft and the distal tail.

13 . The transcatheter device of claim 12 , wherein the spacer body has a non-linear shape.

14 . The transcatheter device of claim 12 , wherein the distal tail comprises a bend.

15 . The transcatheter device of claim 12 , wherein the distal tail comprises a proximal segment and a distal segment, wherein the distal segment has a thinner diameter than the proximal segment.

16 . The transcatheter device of claim 12 , wherein the spacer body has a length in the range of range of 4-13 cm.

17 . The transcatheter device of claim 12 , wherein the intravascular anchor is a spiral coil.

18 . The transcatheter device of claim 17 , wherein the intravascular anchor is has at least two spirals.

19 . A coaptation assembly comprising:

a transcatheter device of claim 12 , wherein the main shaft comprises a lumen;

a guidewire traveling through the lumen of the main shaft;

a moveable delivery sheath that covers the spacer body and intravascular anchor;

a deployment catheter for intravascular deployment of the transcatheter device.

20 . The transcatheter device assembly of claim 19 , further comprising an entry opening on the main shaft at a location between the intravascular anchor and the spacer body and an exit opening on the main shaft at a tip of the distal tail;

wherein the lumen of the main shaft extends from the entry opening to the exit opening;

wherein the guidewire travels through the lumen from the entry opening to the exit opening.