Patent ID: 8133239

Claim:
A device for coapting cardiac valve leaflets, comprising: a grasper having a first closure member with a first grasping surface and a second closure member with a second grasping surface, the first and second grasping surfaces being capable of releasably grasping cardiac valve leaflets between the first and second grasping surfaces; and a fastener adapted to close over the closure members, wherein, when the cardiac valve leaflets are grasped by the first and second grasping surfaces, one of the grasping surfaces in contact with the cardiac valve leaflets is configured to be movably displaced in a longitudinal direction relative to the other grasping surface in contact with the cardiac valve leaflets to reposition cardiac valve leaflets relative to each other, and wherein the fastener is capable of being positioned to close over the closure members whereby the closure members coapt the cardiac valve leaflets.