Annular tissue repair device

Abstract

Various embodiments of an implant delivery systems including at least one removable actuator to reshape a valve annulus are described. The systems may use the removable actuator to customize annular reshaping at a treatment site and withdraw the actuator from the treatment site following custom reshaping to provide a low profile annuloplasty implant.

1 - 3 . (canceled) 
     
     
         4 . A device for adjusting the configuration of annular tissue, said device comprising:
 an implantable device; and   a cinch mechanism;   wherein:   said implantable device has an adjustable annulus remodeling diameter and is engageable with annular tissue and adjustable to adjust the annulus remodeling diameter thereof to reconfigure the annular tissue; and   said cinch mechanism is operably coupled with said implantable device to retain the adjusted annulus remodeling diameter of said implantable device to retain a cinched shape of said implantable device.   
     
     
         5 . The device of  claim 4 , wherein said implantable device is adjustable into asymmetrical configurations. 
     
     
         6 . The device of  claim 4 , further comprising an actuator movable with respect to said implantable device to adjust the configuration of said implantable device. 
     
     
         7 . The device of  claim 4 , wherein said implantable device comprises spaced apart cinch lumens through which said cinch mechanism is passed. 
     
     
         8 . The device of  claim 4 , wherein said cinch mechanism is positioned radially inwardly of an internal circumference of said implantable device. 
     
     
         9 . The device of  claim 4 , wherein said cinch mechanism is disposed about the outer circumference of said implantable device. 
     
     
         10 . The device of  claim 4 , wherein said implantable device comprises a plurality of struts. 
     
     
         11 . The device of  claim 4 , wherein said cinch mechanism is adjustable to adjust the configuration of said implantable device. 
     
     
         12 . The device of  claim 4 , wherein said cinch mechanism is selected from the group consisting of: a cinch wire, suture material, or a linked cinch cord. 
     
     
         13 . The device of  claim 4 , further comprising tissue-engaging anchors anchoring said implantable device to the annular tissue. 
     
     
         14 . The device of  claim 4 , wherein said implantable device comprises at least one cinch lumen extending radially from said implantable device with a lumen defined therethrough extending circumferentially with respect to said implantable device. 
     
     
         15 . A cinchable implantable device for adjusting the configuration of tissue, said cinchable implantable device having a tissue-engaging configuration and a cinched configuration different from the tissue-engaging configuration, and a retaining feature configured to retain said cinchable implantable device in the cinched configuration, wherein said cinchable implantable device is engageable with tissue when in the tissue-engaging configuration and cinchable to the cinched configuration to adjust the configuration of the tissue with which said cinchable implantable device is engaged. 
     
     
         16 . The cinchable implantable device of  claim 15 , wherein said cinchable implantable device is adjustable into asymmetrical configurations. 
     
     
         17 . The cinchable implantable device of  claim 15 , further comprising an actuator movable with respect to said cinchable implantable device to adjust the configuration of said cinchable implantable device. 
     
     
         18 . The cinchable implantable device of  claim 15 , wherein said cinchable implantable device comprises a plurality of struts. 
     
     
         19 . The cinchable implantable device of  claim 15 , further comprising a cinch mechanism operable to retain said cinchable implantable device in the cinched configuration. 
     
     
         20 . The cinchable implantable device of  claim 19 , wherein said cinch mechanism is mounted externally with respect to said cinchable implantable device. 
     
     
         21 . The cinchable implantable device of  claim 15 , further comprising tissue-engaging anchors anchoring said implantable device to the annular tissue. 
     
     
         22 . A method of adjusting the configuration of annular tissue, said method comprising:
 engaging an implantable device with tissue in an annular configuration;   adjusting the configuration of the implantable device to adjust the configuration of the tissue with which the implantable device is engaged; and   once the implantable device configuration has been adjusted, adjusting a retaining feature to retain the adjusted configuration of the implantable device.   
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein adjusting a retaining feature comprises adjusting a retaining feature mounted externally with respect to the implantable device.