Annuloplasty devices and related heart valve repair methods

A device for repairing a heart valve comprised of valve tissue including an annulus and a plurality of leaflets for allowing and preventing blood flow, the device comprising:

• a valve support device configured for attachment to at least one side of the heart valve, and
• a coil-shaped carrier removably coupled with said valve support device for allowing said valve support device to be turned into position on said at least one side and secured to a portion of the valve tissue to support the heart valve.

A device for repairing a heart valve comprised of valve tissue including an annulus and a plurality of leaflets for allowing and preventing blood flow, the device comprising:

• a catheter having a lumen and an open end,
• an elongate valve support member carried within said lumen and movable from said open end, said elongate valve support member having an uncoiled configuration within said lumen and assuming a coiled configuration when extended from said open end.

The device of 21 further comprising:

• an actuator carried within said lumen and operable to extend said elongate valve support member from said open end.

A device for repairing a heart valve comprised of valve tissue including an annulus and a plurality of leaflets for allowing and preventing blood flow, the device comprising:

• a first support member at least partially formed from a shape memory alloy operable to assume an activated shape and an inactivated shape, and
• a second support member at least partially formed from said shape memory alloy and connected to said first support member, said first support member configured to abut one side of the valve and said second support member configured to abut an opposite side of the valve, whereby a portion of the valve tissue is trapped between said first and second support members upon said shape memory alloy assuming said activated shape.

A device for repairing a heart valve comprised of valve tissue including an annulus and a plurality of leaflets for allowing and preventing blood flow, the device comprising:

• a carrier, and
• a coil-shaped member connected to said carrier in a removable manner, said coil-shaped member having a first support ring configured to abut one side of the valve and a second support ring configured to abut an opposite side of the valve to thereby trap a portion of the valve tissue therebetween.

A replacement valve device for replacing a heart valve of a patient, the device comprising:

• a first support ring, and
• a second support ring connected to said first support ring to form a coiled configuration, said first support ring configured to abut one side of an area of valve tissue and said second support ring configured to abut an opposite side of the area of the valve tissue to thereby trap the valve tissue therebetween, and
• a replacement valve coupled to said second support ring and including at least one valve element extending within said second support ring for allowing and preventing blood flow therethrough.

A method of repairing a heart valve comprised of valve tissue including an annulus and a plurality of leaflets for allowing and preventing blood flow, the method comprising:

• inserting a first end of a coil-shaped support through a portion of the valve tissue,
• rotating at least a first ring of the coil-shaped support to position the first ring on a first side of the valve, and
• positioning at least a second ring of the coil-shaped support on an opposite second side of the valve.