Heart valve annuloplasty

Abstract

Annuloplasty devices, configured to mechanically distort valve annulus tissue while providing structurally disruptive energy to induce plastic deformation. In some embodiments, mechanical distortion comprises vacuum-induced attachment to tissue, optionally with or without additional manipulation to pull or stretch tissue. In some embodiments, mechanical distortion comprises torsional deformation of tissue. Optionally, the torsional deformation is limited by the device to a predetermined angle of twist, for example in a range of 60°-120°. In some embodiments, torsional deformation comprises rotating an axis extending between tissue-embedded pins of the device from a first angle oblique to the local circumferential direction to a second such angle, through an intermediate angle which is perpendicular to the local circumferential direction. In some embodiments, a non-penetrating transducer delivers the structurally disruptive energy via a surface contacting the valve annulus tissue.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.