Apparatus and methods for treating tissue

A method for treating tissue near a valve to modify flow through the valve, comprising:

• providing a cinching member having a central region, a first anchoring region, and a second anchoring region, each of the anchoring regions being attached to opposing ends of the central region;
• placing a delivery catheter near the tissue;
• urging the cinching member through a distal opening defined in the catheter such that the first anchoring region exits the distal opening and attaches to a first area of the tissue against or adjacent to an annulus of the valve;
• and
• further urging the cinching member through the distal opening such that second anchoring region exits the distal opening and attaches to a second area of the tissue against or adjacent to the annulus of the valve such that the first area and the second area are urged towards one another by the cinching member.

A system for treating tissue near a valve to modify flow through the valve, comprising:

• a first catheter having a distal end region, the catheter being configured for transluminal delivery of the end region to the target site;
• an end effector in communication with the distal end region, the end effector being configured to transfer energy to the tissue at the target site to induce thermal shrinkage of collagen in the tissue, thereby modifying flow through the valve;
• and
• a cinching member having a central region and at least two anchoring regions on opposing sides of the central region, wherein each anchoring region is configured to be anchored to opposing areas of tissue and urge the areas of tissue towards one another, the cinching member being further configured for delivery through the first catheter or a second catheter to the tissue whereby the cinching member has a first shape during the delivery and a second shape after the delivery.