Heart valve repair

A valve repair system comprising:

• an implantable device comprising:
• first and second paddles that are movable between an open position and a closed position;
• first and second tissue-gripping elements associated with the first and second paddles, respectively, each of the first and second tissue-gripping elements being configured to attach to a respective leaflet of a native heart valve of a patient;
• a connector configured to be implanted in first and second leaflets of the native heart valve of the patient when the implantable device is gripped to the first and second leaflets and to allow for the implantable device to be removed when the connector is implanted in the first and second leaflets, the connector comprising:
• a first anchor configured to engage a first valve leaflet of the native heart valve of the patient;
• a second anchor configured to engage a second valve leaflet of the native heart valve of the patient;
• a first suture attached to the first anchor;
• a second suture attached to the second anchor;
• wherein the first suture and the second suture extend between the first anchor and the second anchor;
• a wedge having angled engagement surfaces that are configured to engage the first valve leaflet and the second valve leaflet between the first anchor and the second anchor and having a base surface with a locking aperture;
• a locking nut at least partially received in the locking aperture;
• wherein the first suture and the second suture are received by the angled engagement surfaces, exit the wedge through the base surface, and extend through an internal passage of the locking nut;
• and
• wherein the locking nut is configured to capture the first suture and the second suture between the locking nut and the wedge.

A heart valve repair system comprising:

• an implantable device configured to attach to at least two leaflets of a native heart valve of a patient and hold the at least two leaflets in a relatively fixed position;
• and
• a connector that is separate from the implantable device, the connector including first and second tissue anchors and being configured to be attached to the at least two leaflets of the native heart valve of the patient when the at least two leaflets are held by the implantable device in the relatively fixed position;
• wherein the connector includes a wedge and a lock;
• the connector having angled engagement surfaces that are configured to engage the at least two leaflets of the native valve and having a base surface;
• a first suture attached to the first anchor;
• a second suture attached to the second anchor;
• wherein the first suture and the second suture are received by the angled engagement surfaces, exit the wedge through the base surface and extend through an internal passage of the lock;
• and
• the implantable device being configured to be detached from the at least two leaflets and removed from the patient with the connector remaining attached to the at least two leaflets.