Heart valve sealing devices and delivery devices therefor

Abstract

A valve repair device for repairing a native heart valve of a patient includes a pair of clasps, a pair of paddles, and a coupler. The clasps and paddles are configured to attach to native valve leaflets of the heart valve. The coupler is mechanically connected to the paddles. The coupler is configured to move the paddles between a partially open position and a closed position. The coupler is configured to move freely such that ends of the pair of paddles move away from one another when the native valve leaflets open during a diastolic phase of a cardiac cycle and the ends of the pair of paddles move toward one another when the native valve leaflets close during a ventricular systole of the cardiac cycle.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A valve repair device for repairing a native heart valve of a patient, the valve repair device comprising:
 a pair of clasps;   a pair of paddles, wherein the clasps and paddles are configured to attach to native valve leaflets of the heart valve;   a coupler mechanically connected to the paddles, wherein the coupler is configured to move the paddles between a partially open position and a closed position; and   wherein the coupler is configured to move freely such that ends of the pair of paddles move away from one another when the native valve leaflets open during a diastolic phase of a cardiac cycle, and wherein the ends of the pair of paddles move toward one another when the native valve leaflets close during a ventricular systole of the cardiac cycle.   
     
     
         2 . The valve repair device of  claim 1 , further comprising a shaft, wherein the coupler is configured to move along the shaft such that movement of the coupler along the shaft causes the pair of paddles to move between the partially open position and the closed position. 
     
     
         3 . The valve repair device of  claim 1 , wherein the ends of the paddles are angled away from one another when the paddles are in the partially open position. 
     
     
         4 . The valve repair device of  claim 1 , wherein the coupler is connected to the paddles by a linkage that pivots when the coupler moves the pair of paddles between the partially open position and the closed position. 
     
     
         5 . The valve repair device of  claim 1 , wherein the clasps are connected to a base assembly such that the clasps are movable with the base assembly to adjust a width of an opening between the clasps and the paddles. 
     
     
         6 . The valve repair device of  claim 1 , further comprising a coaption element connected to the pair of paddles, wherein the movement of the paddles causes the native valve leaflets to coapt against the coaption element when the native valve closes and causes the native valve leaflets to separate from the coaption element when the native valve opens. 
     
     
         7 . The valve repair device of  claim 1 , wherein the native valve leaflets are leaflets of one of a mitral valve or a tricuspid valve. 
     
     
         8 . A system for repairing a native heart valve of a patient, comprising:
 a catheter;   a valve repair device deliverable through the catheter to the native heart valve, the valve repair device comprising:
 a pair of clasps wherein each clasp is configured to attach to native valve leaflets of the heart valve; 
 a pair of paddles, wherein the clasps and paddles are configured to attach to native valve leaflets of the heart valve; 
 a coupler mechanically connected to the paddles, wherein the coupler is configured to move the paddles between a partially open position and a closed position; and 
 wherein the coupler is configured to move freely such that ends of the pair of paddles move away from one another when the native valve leaflets open during a diastolic phase of a cardiac cycle, and wherein the ends of the pair of paddles move toward one another when the native valve leaflets close during a ventricular systole of the cardiac cycle. 
   
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 8 , further comprising a shaft, wherein the coupler is configured to move along the shaft such that movement of the coupler along the shaft causes the pair of paddles to move between the partially open position and the closed position. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the ends of the paddles are angled away from one another when the paddles are in the partially open position. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the coupler is connected to the paddles by a linkage that pivots when the coupler moves the pair of paddles between the partially open position and the closed position. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the clasps are connected to a base assembly such that the clasps are movable with the base assembly to adjust a width of an opening between the clasps and the paddles. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 8 , further comprising a coaption element connected to the pair of paddles, wherein the movement of the paddles causes the native valve leaflets to coapt against the coaption element when the native valve closes and causes the native valve leaflets to separate from the coaption element when the native valve opens. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the native valve leaflets are leaflets of one of a mitral valve or a tricuspid valve. 
     
     
         15 . A method of repairing a native heart valve of a patient with a valve repair device having paddles, clasps, and a coupler connected to the paddles, the method comprising:
 attaching the paddles and clasps to native valve leaflets of the heart valve;   adjusting a position of the paddles with the coupler; and   allowing the coupler to move with the paddles during a cardiac cycle of a heart, wherein the coupler is configured to move freely such that ends of the paddles move away from one another when the native valve leaflets open during a diastolic phase of a cardiac cycle, and wherein the ends of the paddles move toward one another when the native valve leaflets close during a ventricular systole of the cardiac cycle.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising sliding the coupler along a shaft to cause the pair of paddles to move between the partially open position and the closed position. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising angling the ends of the paddles away from one another when the paddles are in the partially open position. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising pivoting a linkage connected to the paddles when the coupler moves the pair of paddles between the partially open position and the closed position. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising moving the clasps to adjust a width of an opening between the clasps and the paddles. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising coapting the native valve leaflets against a coaption element when the native valve closes and separating the native valve leaflets from the coaption element when the native valve opens. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the native valve leaflets are leaflets of one of a mitral valve or a tricuspid valve.