Heart anchor positioning devices, methods, and systems for treatment of congestive heart failure and other conditions

A method comprising:

• positioning a first heart anchor into engagement with a first wall of the heart of a patient;
• sliding a second heart anchor along the tension line by pushing the second heart anchor a distal end of an elongated shaft through which extends the tension line, wherein the sliding positions the second heart anchor against a second wall of the heart;
• during the sliding, the pushing applies a force to the heart anchor to urge the second wall toward the first wall of the heart;
• during the sliding, providing an indication of the force applied to the second heart anchor wherein the indication is provided by a device body to which the external shaft is attached and is external to the patient;
• and
• actuating a lock mechanism at the device body to secure the second heart anchor to the tension member to restrict proximal movement of the heart anchor along the tension member, wherein the actuating the lock mechanism moves a pin on the distal end of the elongated shaft and the pin pushes a cam on the second heart anchor to latch the tension member.

A method to implant heart anchors positioning system comprising:

• pulling a tension line through a first wall and a second wall of a heart;
• seating a first heart anchor attached to a distal end of the tension line on the first wall by the pulling of the tension line;
• attaching a second heart anchor to a distal end of an elongated shaft including a lumen through which extends the tension line, wherein the distal end of the elongated shaft releasably engages the second heart anchor;
• manually applying a force to a handle attached to a proximal end of the elongated shaft to advance the elongated shaft and the second heart anchor along the tension line such that distal end pushes the second heart anchor against the second wall of the heart and urges the second wall toward the first wall, and
• latching the second heart anchor on the tension line and releasing the second heart anchor from the distal end of the elongated shaft while the second anchor is against the second wall and the second wall is urged toward the first wall, wherein the latching and the releasing are actuated by at least one manual action applied to the handle.