Single catheter heart repair device and method for use

A method of securing suture to heart tissue, the method comprising:

• advancing a catheter into the heart, the catheter having a generally cylindrical elongated body having a proximal end and a distal end and a longitudinal axis, an extendable engagement tip capable of moving in telescopic relation to the elongated body distal end, an extendable support slidingly extending from the elongated body distal end at a first side thereof, wherein the extendable support is radially displaced away from the longitudinal axis of the elongated body, wherein the extendable engagement tip is secured to the extendable support, wherein when the extendable support is slidingly extended from the elongated body distal end, a tissue-receiving opening is formed which is defined by the elongated body distal end, the extendable engagement tip, and the extendable support, and wherein the tissue-receiving opening extends from the extendable support at the first side of the elongated body distal end, across the longitudinal axis of the elongated body, and to a second side of the elongated body distal end, wherein the second side of the elongate body distal end is radially opposite to the first side of the elongate body distal end, the catheter further comprising a first suture portion and a first needle;
• advancing the elongate body distal end to a position adjacent a first heart tissue portion within the heart;
• extending the extendable engagement tip and the extendable support distally of the elongate body distal end to thereby create the tissue-receiving opening;
• positioning the first heart tissue portion within the tissue-receiving opening;
• retracting the extendable engagement tip and the extendable support back toward the elongate body distal end to thereby mechanically retain and stabilize the first heart tissue portion;
• passing the first needle through the first heart tissue portion, wherein the first suture portion is pulled through the first heart tissue portion by the first needle;
• releasing the first heart tissue portion by extending the extendable engagement tip and the extendable support distally from the elongate body distal end;
• and
• withdrawing the catheter from the heart.

A method of repairing a human heart, comprising:

• providing a catheter comprising:
• a main catheter body distal portion having a width and a distal end and a central longitudinal axis, the distal end having a first side and a second side, wherein the first side is on an opposite side of the central longitudinal axis from the second side, the distal end having a generally circular shape;
• a main catheter body proximal portion;
• an extendable engagement tip at the main catheter body distal portion, the extendable engagement tip configured to extend distally from the main catheter body distal portion to thereby form a tissue-receiving recess between the main catheter body distal portion and the extendable engagement tip, wherein the extendable engagement tip comprises a proximal end having a generally circular shape which matches the shape of the distal end of the main catheter body;
• an extendable support configured to distally extend from the distal end of the main catheter body from a position adjacent the first side of the distal end of the main catheter body, wherein the extendable support is positioned radially away from the central longitudinal axis of the main catheter body distal portion and radially away from a central axis of the extendable engagement tip, the extendable support having a distal end with the extendable engagement tip positioned thereon, whereby when the extendable engagement tip is extended distally, the tissue-receiving recess between the main catheter body distal portion and the extendable tip extends across the entire width of the main catheter body distal portion except for the area at the first side of the distal end of the main catheter body, and wherein the tissue-receiving recess extends across the central longitudinal axis of the main catheter body distal portion;
• a first tissue fastener positioned at or adjacent the main catheter body distal end and configured to be advanced across the tissue-receiving recess between the main catheter body distal portion and the extendable engagement tip;
• and
• an actuation device positioned at the main catheter body proximal portion, wherein the actuation device is configured to selectively extend and retract the extendable engagement tip from the main catheter body distal portion;
• advancing the main catheter body distal portion to a position wherein the distal end thereof is within the heart adjacent a first tissue portion;
• activating the actuation device to extend the extendable engagement tip distally from the main catheter body distal portion to thereby form the tissue-receiving recess;
• positioning the first tissue portion within the tissue-receiving recess;
• retaining and stabilizing the first tissue portion by retracting the extendable engagement tip toward the main catheter body distal portion to thereby mechanically hold the first tissue portion between the extendable engagement tip and the main catheter body;
• advancing the first tissue fastener across the tissue-receiving recess between the main catheter body distal portion and the extendable engagement tip, whereby the first tissue fastener passes through the first tissue portion;
• and
• releasing the first tissue portion from the main catheter body by extending the extendable engagement tip distally from the main catheter body distal portion.