Method and apparatus for mitral valve annuloplasty

Abstract

A method for mitral valve annuloplasty includes inserting a catheter apparatus across an aortic valve, the catheter apparatus including a tissue penetration member having a distal fixation end. The method further includes penetrating an aortomitral continuity and tissue of a fibrous trigone with the catheter apparatus from a left ventricular outflow tract beneath the aortic valve, and advancing the catheter apparatus along annular tissue of a mitral valve annulus. The distal fixation end is deployed to engage the annular tissue, the tissue penetration member is retracted within the catheter apparatus to compress the annular tissue a desired distance for reduction of the annular tissue, and the retracted tissue penetration member is secured to anchor the annular tissue reduction.

1 - 14 . (canceled) 
     
     
         15 . A catheter apparatus for mitral valve annuloplasty, comprising:
 a housing;   a retractable tissue penetration member disposed within the housing and having a distal fixation end configured to engage annular tissue of a mitral valve annulus in a deployed position;   a retractable sheath surrounding the tissue penetration member operable to retract with respect to the tissue penetration member to provide the deployed position of the distal fixation end; and   a one-way grommet disposed along the tissue penetration member for securing the tissue penetration member in a retracted position to anchor the annular tissue at a desired distance.   
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , further comprising an ultrasound transducer disposed at a distal end of the housing. 
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein the tissue penetration member includes a plurality of wires in a bundle configuration. 
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein the tissue penetration member has a distal portion and a proximal portion, the proximal portion including spaced protrusions. 
     
     
         19 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein the distal fixation end includes tines. 
     
     
         20 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein the distal fixation end is biased to deploy radially outward upon retraction of the sheath.