Heart valve sealing devices and delivery devices therefor
An exemplary implantable prosthetic device has a coaption element and a pair of paddles. The coaption element has a first end portion and a second end portion. The pair of paddles is connected to the second end portion of the coaption element. The coaption element narrows as the copation element extends from the first end portion to the second end portion. The paddles are movable between an open position and a closed position. The paddles are configured to attach to the native valve of the patient.
1. A valve repair device for repairing a native valve of a patient, the valve repair device comprising:
a coaption element having a first end portion and a second end portion;
wherein the coaption element narrows as the copation element extends from the first end portion to the second end portion;
a collar connected to the first end portion of the coaption element;
a pair of paddles that are movable between an open position and a closed position;
a cap connected to the pair of paddles; and
a shaft that extends through the collar and the coaption element and is connected to the cap;
wherein movement of the cap by the shaft toward the collar causes the pair of paddles to move to the closed position, and movement of the cap by the shaft away from the collar causes the pair of paddles to move to the open position; and
wherein the paddles are configured to attach to the native valve of the patient.
2. The valve repair device of claim 1 , wherein the coaption element is symmetrical about a plane that bisects the coaption element and the paddles.
3. The valve repair device of claim 1 , wherein the coaption element is symmetrical about a plane that bisects the coaption element and that is between the paddles.
4. The valve repair device of claim 1 , wherein the coaption element narrows as the copation element extends from the first end portion to the second end portion when the valve repair device is viewed from a side of the valve repair device.
5. The valve repair device of claim 1 , wherein the coaption element narrows as the copation element extends from the first end portion to the second end portion when the valve repair device is viewed from a front of the valve repair device.
6. The valve repair device of claim 1 , wherein the coaption element narrows as the copation element extends from the first end portion to the second end portion when the valve repair device is viewed from a front of the valve repair device and wherein the coaption element narrows as the copation element extends from the first end portion to the second end portion when the valve repair device is viewed from a side of the valve repair device.
7. The valve repair device of claim 1 , wherein a gap between the coaption element and each of the paddles widens from the first end portion to the second end portion when the valve repair device is viewed from a side of the valve repair device.
8. The valve repair device of claim 7 wherein the gap between the coaption element and each of the paddles has a teardrop shape when the valve repair device is viewed from a side of the valve repair device.
9. The valve repair device of claim 1 , wherein the coaption element is hollow.
10. The valve repair device of claim 9 wherein all sectional views taken between first end portion and the second end portion are oval shaped.
11. The valve repair device of claim 10 wherein the oval shaped cross-sections of the coaption element are progressively smaller as the coaption element extends from the first end portion toward the second end portion.
12. The valve repair device of claim 1 , wherein an end of the first end portion has an hourglass shape and the first end portion widens as the first end portion extends toward the second end portion.
13. The valve repair device of claim 12 wherein the coaption element is made from a fabric.
14. The valve repair device of claim 13 , wherein the fabric comprises an electrospun material.
15. The valve repair device of claim 13 , wherein the fabric comprises braided metal wires.
16. The valve repair device of claim of claim 1 , wherein each of the paddles comprise an inner paddle portion and an outer paddle portion.
17. The valve repair system according to claim 1 , wherein the paddles comprise a flexible mesh material connected to an extension member.
18. The valve repair system according to claim 17 , wherein the extension member has a round three dimensional shape and an inner portion of the flexible mesh material is disposed on a first side of the extension member and an outer portion of the flexible mesh material is disposed on a second side of the extension member.