Distal anchor apparatus and methods for mitral valve repair

1. An apparatus, comprising:

a handle;

one or more actuators operably coupled to the handle;

an elongate outer tube projecting from the handle;

a pusher device defining a lumen and disposed at least partially within the elongate outer tube and the handle;

a puncture member coupled to the one or more actuators and at least partially disposed within the lumen of the pusher device; and

a tissue anchor disposed in a delivery configuration around a distal portion of the puncture member, the tissue anchor being associated with one or more suture tails that are coupled to the handle and extend through a lumen of the puncture member;

wherein the one or more actuators are configured to be actuated to cause (1) the puncture member to move distally to an extended position in which the puncture member projects from a distal opening of the elongate outer tube a preset distance, and (2) the pusher device to move distally such that the tissue anchor is pushed distally off of a distal end of the puncture member by a distal end of the pusher device while the puncture member is in the extended position.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein, when the puncture member is moved distally to the extended position:

the tissue anchor is disposed at least partially within the elongate outer tube in the delivery configuration; and

the distal end of the pusher device is disposed in the elongate outer tube.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising an end effector disposed at a distal end portion of the elongate outer tube, the end effector having a diameter greater than a diameter of the distal end portion of the elongate outer tube.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein:

the tissue anchor is disposed in an elongated coiled configuration when in the delivery configuration;

the one or more actuators are configured such that the one or more suture tails are pulled proximally and the tissue anchor is moved from the elongated coiled configuration to a deployed configuration when the one or more actuators are actuated; and

the tissue anchor is disposed in a coiled knot configuration when in the deployed configuration.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein:

the one or more actuators comprise a plunger;

the plunger is movably coupled to the handle; and

the puncture member is releasably coupled to the plunger.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the preset distance is between about 0.2 inches to about 0.3 inches.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein:

the preset distance is a first preset distance;

the one or more actuators are configured to be actuated such that the pusher device is moved distally a second preset distance from the distal opening of the elongate outer tube;

the first preset distance being about 0.2 inches to about 0.3 inches; and

the second preset distance being between about 0.6 inches to about 0.7 inches.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a lock configured to:

prevent actuation of the one or more actuators when the lock is engaged; and

allow actuation of the one or more actuators when the lock is disengaged.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the one or more actuators are configured to be actuated to cause the pusher device to further advance distally to cause the tissue anchor to transition to a deployed configuration.

10. The apparatus of claim 9 , wherein:

in the delivery configuration, the tissue anchor has a first diameter; and

in the deployed configuration, the tissue anchor has a second diameter that is greater than the first diameter.

11. The apparatus of claim 9 , wherein:

in the delivery configuration, the tissue anchor has a first width; and

in the deployed configuration, the tissue anchor has a second width that is greater than the first width.

12. An apparatus, comprising:

a handle;

one or more actuators operably coupled to the handle;

an elongate outer tube projecting from the handle;

a pusher device defining a lumen and disposed at least partially within the elongate outer tube and the handle;

a needle coupled to the one or more actuators and at least partially disposed within the lumen of the pusher device; and

an anchor disposed on the needle in a delivery configuration;

wherein:

the anchor is associated with one or more suture strands that extend through a lumen defined by the needle;

the one or more actuators are configured to be actuated at a first time period to cause (1) the needle to advance distally a preset distance beyond a distal end of the elongate outer tube, and (2) the pusher device to advance distally to push the anchor distally beyond a distal end of the needle; and

the one or more actuators are configured to be actuated at a second time period after the first time period to cause the anchor to transition from the delivery configuration to a deployed configuration.

13. The apparatus of claim 12 , further comprising an end effector disposed at the distal end of the elongate outer tube, the end effector having a diameter greater than a diameter of the elongate outer tube.

14. The apparatus of claim 12 , wherein:

in the delivery configuration, the anchor has a first diameter; and

in the deployed configuration, the anchor has a second diameter that is greater than the first diameter.

15. The apparatus of claim 12 , wherein:

in the delivery configuration, the anchor has a first width; and

in the deployed configuration, the anchor has a second width that is greater than the first width.

16. The apparatus of claim 12 , wherein the one or more suture strands are configured to function as an artificial chorda.

17. The apparatus of claim 12 , wherein the preset distance is about 0.2 inches to about 0.3 inches.

18. The apparatus of claim 12 , further comprising a lock configured to:

prevent actuation of the one or more actuators when the lock is engaged; and

allow actuation of the one or more actuators when the lock is disengaged.

19. The apparatus of claim 12 , wherein when the one or more actuators are actuated at the first time period, both the pusher device and the needle are moved distally through a lumen of the elongate outer tube.

20. The apparatus of claim 12 , wherein:

the anchor is disposed in an elongated coiled configuration when in the delivery configuration;

when the one or more actuators are actuated at the second time period, the one or more suture strands are pulled proximally to cause the anchor to transition from the elongated coiled configuration to the deployed configuration; and

the anchor is disposed in a coiled knot configuration when in the deployed configuration.

21. The apparatus of claim 20 , wherein:

the one or more actuators comprise a needle hub and a pusher hub;

the needle hub and the pusher hub are movably coupled to the handle;

the pusher device is coupled to the pusher hub; and

the needle is coupled to the needle hub.