Patent ID: 9125653
Filing Date: 2015-09-08
Classification: A61B,A61F

Abstract:
1. A device for gathering tissue of a heart valve leaflet, the device comprising: an outer tube extending in an elongation direction and having an open distal end, the outer tube having an outer surface and a lumen extending therethrough, the lumen having a first cross-section; a capture tool movable in the outer tube between a contained position and a use position, the capture tool being operable to capture tissue of the heart valve leaflet and to draw the captured tissue into the outer tube in a gathered configuration; a tissue securing component disposed at the open distal end of the outer tube and adapted to be applied to the captured tissue to hold the captured tissue in the gathered configuration; a nosecone removably assembled over the open distal end of the outer tube in a protective condition, the nosecone having a central portion that extends across the open distal end of the outer tube and a peripheral portion surrounding the central portion and overlying the outer surface of the outer tube adjacent the open distal end; and a rigid actuation member joined to the central portion of the nosecone and extending into the lumen of the outer tube, wherein the nosecone is configured to move from the protective condition to a collapsed condition when the nosecone is pushed off of the distal end of the outer tube by distal movement of the actuation member relative to the outer tube, and wherein the nosecone is made of a shape memory material that is biased toward the collapsed condition, the nosecone in the collapsed condition having a second cross-section that is smaller than the first cross-section.