Large tissue defect recruiting device

A tissue recruiting assembly of a tissue recruiting device operable to extend through a catheter and grasp tissue, the tissue recruiting assembly comprising:

• a first grasping device operably coupled to a first actuation element by a first coupler;
• a second grasping device operably coupled to a second actuation element by a second coupler;
• a shroud configured to surround the first and second grasping devices;
• and
• a connector configured to operably couple the shroud to the catheter;
• wherein the first grasping device may be controlled by the first actuation element to grasp tissue at a first location and the second grasping device may be controlled by the second actuation element to grasp tissue at a second location;
• wherein the grasping devices may be retracted into the shroud and locked in place when grasping tissue;
• and
• wherein the grasping devices are operably decoupled from the actuation elements and the shroud is operably decoupled from the catheter after the grasping devices are retracted into the shroud.

A method for treating a defect with a tissue recruiting device, the method comprising the steps of:

• grasping a first side of the defect with a first grasping device via a first actuation element;
• grasping a second side of the defect with a second grasping device via a second actuation element;
• retracting the first and second grasping devices into a shroud coupled to a catheter;
• decoupling the first grasping device from the first actuation element and the second grasping device from the second actuation element;
• and
• decoupling the shroud from the catheter.