Chorda replacement apparatus and method

Abstract

Apparatus for coupling a prosthetic chorda to an atrioventricular valve leaflet, the apparatus comprising: a neochorda delivery system comprising a steerable and pushable catheter housing a neochorda attached to a neochorda puncture needle, the catheter operable to push the puncture needle to puncture and thread the neochorda through a papillary muscle of a ventricle; a retriever system comprising a catheter housing a grabber operable to capture the neochorda puncture needle after being threaded through the papillary muscle and withdraw the neochorda puncture needle and neochorda from the ventricle; and a tissue clamping system comprising a catheter housing distal and proximal tissue clamps deployable to clamp a region of an atrioventricular valve between them and hold the region so that it may be punctured by the puncture needle to deliver the neochorda through the leaflet and to the papillary muscle.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.