Patent ID: 7799038
Filing Date: 2010-09-21
Classification: A61B,A61F

Abstract:
1. An apparatus, comprising: a receiving catheter having a proximal end and a distal end, and a predetermined bend there between that positions the distal end adjacent a fibrous ring surrounding a heart valve; a first lumen and a second lumen extending from the distal end towards the proximal end of the receiving catheter; a first capture device positioned at least partially within the first lumen, wherein the first capture device extends from the receiving catheter and captures a first piercing member and a first portion of a cord protruding from the fibrous ring and houses the captured first piercing member and the first portion of the cord in the first lumen; a second capture device positioned at least partially within the second lumen, wherein the second capture device extends from the receiving catheter and captures a second piercing member and a second portion of the cord protruding from the fibrous ring and houses the captured second piercing member and the second portion of the cord in the second lumen; a coupling device directly connected to the distal end of the receiving catheter and having a first opening aligned with the first lumen and a second opening aligned with the second lumen such that the first capture device passes through the first opening and the second capture device passes through the second opening, wherein the coupling device connects to the first and second portions of the cord and forms a loop including the coupling device, and wherein the coupling device and loop are separable from the distal end of the receiving catheter, and wherein a portion of the coupling device proximal to the distal end of the receiving catheter is constructed of a sacrificial material, softer than a material used to construct a remainder of the coupling device; and a release member associated with the receiving catheter and the coupling device, wherein the release member is configured to cut the cord extending beyond the loop and to cut through the sacrificial material to separate the coupling device and the loop from the receiving catheter.