Patent ID: 11918461
Assignee: EDWARDS LIFESCIENCES CORPORATION
Field: Medical technology (Instruments)
Classification: CPC A | IPC A

Claim 0:
1. A method of treating a deficient native mitral valve of a heart of a patient, the method comprising:
advancing a steerable, first catheter through the patient's vasculature, wherein a distal end portion of the first catheter is steerable to facilitate advancement of the first catheter through the vasculature;
advancing the distal end portion of the first catheter into the heart to position the distal end portion of the first catheter adjacent the native mitral valve;
adjusting the curvature of the distal end portion of the first catheter to form a first curve;
advancing a distal end portion of a second catheter from a distal end of the first catheter, wherein the distal end portion of the second catheter is pre-shaped to form a second curve when advanced from the first catheter; and
deploying a wire from the second catheter such that the wire completely encircles native leaflets of the native mitral valve;
wherein the wire is pre-shaped to form a curve that surrounds the native leaflets when deployed from the second catheter.