A heart valve leaflet capture device (400, 500, 600) comprising: a cardiac catheter probe having a proximal end for manipulating the device (400, 500, 600) and a distal end terminating in a transvalve element (408, 502, 620) configured to pass through a heart valve generally parallel to a longitudinal axis of the catheter, and two or three leaflet gripping elements (402, 508, 622), and wherein two or three atrial stoppers (406, 506, 624) are provided, each being associated with a leaflet gripping element (402, 508, 622) and located generally between the leaflet gripping element (402, 508, 622) and the transvalve element (408, 502, 620), wherein each of the leaflet gripping elements (402, 508, 622) is individually movable by operation of an associated actuating mechanism from a radially retracted position to a capture position and from the capture position to the retracted position, wherein when in the radially retracted position the leaflet gripping element (402, 508, 622) is withdrawn with respect to the transvalve element (408, 502, 620) and when in the capture position the leaflet gripping element (402, 508, 622) diverges outwardly at an acute angle from the transvalve element (408, 502, 620), wherein the leaflet gripping elements (402, 508, 622) are positioned relative to the transvalve element (408, 502, 620) so that each in its capture position forms a convergent capture zone directed towards the edges of a target valve leaflet, and in that the atrial stoppers (406, 506, 624) are movable by operation of an associated operating mechanism between an inoperative configuration, in which the atrial stopper (406, 506, 624) locates generally adjacent the transvalve element (408, 502, 620), and an operative configuration, in which the atrial stopper (406, 506, 624) diverges outwardly at an acute angle from the transvalve element (408, 502, 620) so as to enable capturing of a target valve leaflet (418, 528) between the atrial stopper (406, 506, 624) and the associated leaflet gripping element (402, 508, 622), characterised in that the atrial stoppers (406,506,624) are individually movable by the operating mechanism between the inoperative configuration and the operative configuration. a cardiac catheter probe having a proximal end for manipulating the device (400, 500, 600) and a distal end terminating in a transvalve element (408, 502, 620) configured to pass through a heart valve generally parallel to a longitudinal axis of the catheter, and two or three leaflet gripping elements (402, 508, 622), and wherein two or three atrial stoppers (406, 506, 624) are provided, each being associated with a leaflet gripping element (402, 508, 622) and located generally between the leaflet gripping element (402, 508, 622) and the transvalve element (408, 502, 620), wherein each of the leaflet gripping elements (402, 508, 622) is individually movable by operation of an associated actuating mechanism from a radially retracted position to a capture position and from the capture position to the retracted position, wherein when in the radially retracted position the leaflet gripping element (402, 508, 622) is withdrawn with respect to the transvalve element (408, 502, 620) and when in the capture position the leaflet gripping element (402, 508, 622) diverges outwardly at an acute angle from the transvalve element (408, 502, 620), wherein the leaflet gripping elements (402, 508, 622) are positioned relative to the transvalve element (408, 502, 620) so that each in its capture position forms a convergent capture zone directed towards the edges of a target valve leaflet, and in that the atrial stoppers (406, 506, 624) are movable by operation of an associated operating mechanism between an inoperative configuration, in which the atrial stopper (406, 506, 624) locates generally adjacent the transvalve element (408, 502, 620), and an operative configuration, in which the atrial stopper (406, 506, 624) diverges outwardly at an acute angle from the transvalve element (408, 502, 620) so as to enable capturing of a target valve leaflet (418, 528) between the atrial stopper (406, 506, 624) and the associated leaflet gripping element (402, 508, 622), characterised in that the atrial stoppers (406,506,624) are individually movable by the operating mechanism between the inoperative configuration and the operative configuration.