Suture management device and methods

A delivery system for a heart implant for treatment of a heart valve in a heart chamber of a patient, the system comprising:

• a first catheter having a proximal and distal end, wherein the first catheter includes a first lumen extending therethrough for passage of a guidewire, wherein the first catheter further includes:
• a magnetic head along a distal portion thereof, wherein the magnetic head comprises magnetic poles oriented laterally relative a longitudinal axis of the first catheter and a guide channel defined therein extending to a side hole adjacent a first magnetic pole,
• a penetrating wire section of a suture-wire element advanceable through a second lumen aligned with the guide channel of the distal magnetic head, wherein the penetrating wire section has a sharpened distal end to facilitate penetration of tissue;
• a posterior anchor releasably coupled with the first catheter along the distal portion thereof;
• a suture section of the suture-wire element, the suture section being configured to act as a bridging element in the implant, wherein the suture section is attached to the posterior anchor at one end and attached to the penetrating wire section at an opposite end such that advancement of the penetrating wire section through the side hole and across the heart chamber facilitates advancement of the suture section across the heart chamber;
• and
• a suture-wire management device configured for managing excess suture-wire element extending proximally of the first catheter during delivery and deployment of the posterior anchor.

A device for managing a suture-wire element having a suture section and a needle wire section of increased stiffness, the device comprising:

• a housing having a generally rounded shape along a major plane thereof and defining an enclosure;
• an inner groove surface defined within the enclosure, the inner groove facing in a radially outward direction and configured for winding of the suture section thereon within a coil;
• an outer groove surface defined within the enclosure and facing radially inward and configured for constraining a coil of the wire section therein;
• a circular opening along an upper surface of the housing when the major plane is horizontal for a sequential dispensing of the suture section and the wire section therethrough from within the enclosure;
• and
• a slit extending radially from the circular opening for passage of a portion of the suture section to avoid interference or tangling when dispensing excess suture-wire element through the circular opening.

A method of loading a suture wire element having a suture section and a wire section of increased stiffness in a suture-wire management device, the method comprising:

• placing the suture section within the device such that a portion of the suture section extends into an enclosure of the device or is secured onto the device;
• winding the suture section about an inner winding surface of the device within a first coil;
• and
• after winding the suture section, winding the wire section of increased stiffness about an outer winding surface of the device that constrains the needle wire section within a second coil having a larger diameter than the first coil,
• wherein the portion of the suture section extends under the second coil of the needle wire coil so as to facilitate dispensing of the needle wire section from the second coil before dispensing of the suture section from the first coil.