Cardiac implant anchoring

Abstract

An implant comprises an anchor that comprises a helical tissue-coupling element. A tool is configured to advance the implant to a heart of a subject, and to position the anchor at tissue of the heart such that the implant extends from the anchor proximally away from the tissue. The tool comprises a tube having a distal end coupled to the implant, and a deployment manipulator. The deployment manipulator extends through the tube to the anchor disposed distally beyond the tube, and is configured to anchor the anchor to the tissue. Presence of the deployment manipulator through the distal end of the tube maintains the coupling between the distal end of the tube and the implant. Other embodiments are also described.

1 - 83 . (canceled) 
     
     
         84 . A system for use with a heart of a subject, the system comprising:
 an implant, comprising an anchor that comprises a helical tissue-coupling element; and   a tool, configured to advance the implant to the heart, and to position the anchor at tissue of the heart such that the implant extends from the anchor proximally away from the tissue, the tool comprising:
 a tube having a distal end coupled to the implant, and 
 a deployment manipulator,
 extending through the tube to the anchor disposed distally beyond the tube, and 
 configured to anchor the anchor to the tissue, 
 
   wherein presence of the deployment manipulator through the distal end of the tube maintains the coupling between the distal end of the tube and the implant.   
     
     
         85 . The system according to  claim 84 , wherein:
 the tube is first tube,   the deployment manipulator comprises second tube, and   presence of the second tube through the distal end of the first tube maintains the coupling between the distal end of the first tube and the implant.   
     
     
         86 . The system according to  claim 84 , wherein the implant further comprises a flexible elongated contracting member. 
     
     
         87 . The system according to  claim 86 , wherein the implant further comprises a contracting mechanism, coupled to the contracting member, actuation of the contracting mechanism contracting the contracting member. 
     
     
         88 . The system according to  claim 87 , wherein the contracting mechanism comprises a spool, rotation of the spool contracting the contracting member. 
     
     
         89 . The system according to  claim 88 , wherein the contracting mechanism further comprises a housing that houses the spool. 
     
     
         90 . The system according to  claim 84 , wherein the tool comprises an external control handle, coupled to a proximal portion of the tube, and configured to control a position of the deployment manipulator with respect to the tube. 
     
     
         91 . The system according to  claim 90 , wherein the external control handle is configured to decouple the distal end of the tube from the implant by withdrawing the deployment manipulator proximally through the distal end of the tube. 
     
     
         92 . The system according to  claim 84 , wherein at the distal end of the tube the tube comprises one or more coupling elements that couple the tube to the implant. 
     
     
         93 . The system according to  claim 92 , wherein the coupling elements extend distally from the distal end of the tube. 
     
     
         94 . The system according to  claim 92 , wherein the coupling elements couple the tube to the implant by pressing laterally outward against the implant. 
     
     
         95 . The system according to  claim 92 , wherein the presence of the deployment manipulator through the distal end of the tube maintains the coupling between the distal end of the tube and the implant by inhibiting the coupling elements from moving medially. 
     
     
         96 . The system according to  claim 95 , wherein the coupling elements are biased to move medially.