CARDIAC VALVE REPAIR DEVICES AND ASSOCIATED SYSTEMS AND METHODS
Cardiac valve repair devices and associated systems and methods are disclosed herein. A cardiac valve repair device configured in accordance with embodiments of the present technology can include, for example, a coaptation member configured to be positioned between one or more native leaflets of the cardiac valve to at least partially fill a space between the native leaflets. The cardiac valve repair device can further include one or more fixation mechanisms for securing the coaptation member in position between the leaflets. A cardiac valve repair device configured in accordance with additional embodiments of the present technology can include an atrial member and a ventricular member configured to sandwich one or more the native leaflets therebetween.
1 . A method of repairing a cardiac valve including a first native leaflet and a second native leaflet, the method comprising:
deploying a coaptation member of a valve repair device at least partially between the first native leaflet and the second native leaflet and such that a first portion of the valve repair devices faces the first native leaflet and a second portion of the valve repair device faces the second native leaflet;
engaging a ventricular side of the first native leaflet with a first clip mechanism extending from the first portion of the valve repair device;
engaging an atrial side of the first native leaflet with a first anchor mechanism extending from the first portion of the valve repair device to at least partially secure a portion of the first native leaflet between the first clip mechanism and the first anchor mechanism;
engaging a ventricular side of the second native leaflet with a second clip mechanism extending from the second portion of the valve repair device; and
engaging an atrial side of the second native leaflet with a second anchor mechanism extending from the second portion of the valve repair device to at least partially secure a portion of the second native leaflet between the second clip mechanism and the second anchor mechanism.
2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the cardiac valve has a regurgitant valve orifice, and wherein deploying the coaptation member at least partially between the first native leaflet and the second native leaflet includes deploying the coaptation member at least partially within the regurgitant valve orifice.
3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the cardiac valve is a mitral valve, wherein the first native leaflet is a posterior leaflet of the mitral valve, and wherein the second native leaflet is an anterior leaflet of the mitral valve.
4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein engaging the ventricular side of the first native leaflet with the first clip mechanism includes independently actuating the first clip mechanism relative to the first anchor mechanism, and wherein engaging the atrial side of the first native leaflet with the first anchor mechanism includes independently actuating the first anchor mechanism relative to the first clip mechanism.
5 . The method of claim 4 , wherein engaging the ventricular side of the second native leaflet with the second clip mechanism includes independently actuating the second clip mechanism relative to the second anchor mechanism, and wherein engaging the atrial side of the second native leaflet with the second anchor mechanism includes independently actuating the second anchor mechanism relative to the second clip mechanism.
6 . The method of claim 1 , wherein engaging the atrial side of the first native leaflet with the first anchor mechanism includes aligning the first anchor mechanism over the first clip mechanism to clamp the portion of the first native leaflet therebetween.
7 . The method of claim 6 , wherein engaging the atrial side of the second native leaflet with the second anchor mechanism includes aligning the second anchor mechanism over the second clip mechanism to clamp the portion of the second native leaflet therebetween.