Patent ID: 9532874
Date: 2017-01-03
CPC Classifications: A61B,A61F

Claim:
1. A device for repair of a heart valve leaflet, the device comprising: an elongated body having a proximal end and a distal end; a jaw mechanism on the distal end of the elongated body, the jaw mechanism including a first jaw and a second jaw operable to pivot relative to one another between an open position and a closed position, the jaw mechanism in the open position defining a receiving space between the first jaw and the second jaw, the second jaw including a slot forming a forked edge at a distal end of the second jaw and at least one sharpened structure projecting laterally from the second jaw configure to provide traction for the jaw mechanism when the jaw mechanism is rotated against the tissue of the heart valve leaflet; and a rivet mounted to the first jaw and movable from a stored position to an application position, the rivet in the application position projecting away from the first jaw toward the second jaw, the rivet having a sharp free end adapted to pierce the heart valve leaflet, wherein movement of the jaw mechanism from the open position to the closed position with the heart valve leaflet in the receiving space and the rivet in the application position causes the rivet to pierce the heart valve leaflet, the slot being sized to receive the sharp free end of the rivet between the forked edge when the rivet is in the application position and the second jaw is in the closed position.