SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR HEART VALVE REPAIR

1 - 27 . (canceled)

28 . A system for transcatheter heart valve repair, comprising:

at least two clip assemblies comprising:

a first elongate member;

a first clip releasably coupled to, and selectively detachable from, the first elongate member, wherein the first clip comprises a ventricular jaw and an atrial jaw;

a second elongate member that is unconnected to the first elongate member such that the first and second elongate members are extendable toward the heart valve separately from each other; and

a second clip that is separate from and unconnected to the first clip, wherein the second clip is releasably coupled to, and selectively detachable from, the second elongate member, wherein the second clip comprises a ventricular jaw and an atrial jaw; and

a locking mechanism that is movable along the first and second elongate members and configured to couple and lock together the first and second clips.

29 . The system of claim 28 , wherein the at least two clip assemblies comprises at least three of the clip assemblies.

30 . The system of claim 28 , further comprising a sheath defining a lumen, wherein the first and second elongate members are slidably disposed within the lumen.

31 . The system of claim 28 , wherein each ventricular jaw has a first width and a first length, and each atrial jaw has a second width and second length, wherein the first width and the second width are different.

32 . The system of claim 28 , wherein each ventricular jaw has a first width and a first length, and each atrial jaw has a second width and second length, wherein the first length and the second length are different.

33 . The system of claim 28 , wherein the ventricular jaw and the atrial jaw of the first clip are each individually deployable to a respective position for approximation of the first clip on a first leaflet portion of the heart valve.

34 . The system of claim 33 , wherein the ventricular jaw and the atrial jaw of the second clip are each individually deployable to a respective position for approximation of the second clip on a second leaflet portion of the heart valve.

35 . The system of claim 28 , wherein the locking mechanism is configured to couple and lock together the first and second clips of the at least two clip assemblies in situ, and not until the first clip is approximated on the first leaflet portion and the second clip is approximated on the second leaflet portion.

36 . The system of claim 35 , wherein the locking mechanism comprises a coupler to lock the first and second clips together.

37 . The system of claim 36 , wherein the coupler allows the first and second clips to be attached such that complete inversion of the leaflets is achieved.

38 . The system of claim 36 , wherein the coupler allows the first and second clips to be attached such that 50% inversion of the leaflets is achieved.

39 . The system of claim 36 , wherein the coupler allows the first and second clips to be attached such that 0-10% inversion of the leaflets is achieved.

40 . The system of claim 36 , wherein the coupler comprises a hinge mechanism.

41 . The system of claim 36 , wherein the coupler defines a plurality of slots to grasp the first and second clips in a plurality of positions.

42 . The system of claim 36 , wherein the coupler is flexible to grasp the first and second clips in a plurality of positions.

43 . A method for heart valve repair, comprising:

inserting a sheath into a chamber of a heart of a patient, wherein the sheath defines a lumen;

individually extending a first elongate member and a first clip from the lumen of the sheath toward the heart valve;

attaching the first clip onto a first leaflet portion of the heart valve;

individually extending a second elongate member and a second clip from the lumen of the sheath toward the heart valve;

attaching the second clip onto a second leaflet portion of the heart valve; and

locking the first clip and the second clip together by engaging a locking mechanism onto the first clip and the second clip.

44 . The method of claim 43 , further comprising clipping a third leaflet portion of the heart valve with a third clip of the at least two clip assemblies.

45 . The method of claim 44 , further comprising securing the first clip, the second clip, and the third clip together by advancing a locking mechanism along the elongate member of each clip assembly and into engagement with each of the first clip, the second clip, and the third clip.

46 . The method of claim 43 , further comprising, after the attaching of the first and second clips and prior to the engaging of the locking mechanism onto the first and second clips, advancing the locking mechanism along the first elongate member and the second elongate member.

47 . The method of claim 19 , further comprising, after locking the first clip and the second clip together, individually uncoupling the first elongate member from the first clip and the second elongate member from the second clip.