Patent ID: 8216230

Claim:
A method for treating a valvular annulus, comprising: (a) introducing percutaneously a medical device system into a patient's heart in a vicinity of a heart valve needing repair, the medical device system comprising: a guide catheter configured for delivery through the patient's vasculature to the vicinity of the heart valve comprising opposing leaflets and an annulus; a first electrode that applies non-ablative energy, the first electrode deployable through the guide catheter; and a leaflet fastening applicator sized for intravascular delivery through the guide catheter to the vicinity of the heart valve, the leaflet fastening applicator comprising first and second grasping elements having at least a second electrode that applies non-ablative energy; (b) deploying the first electrode from the guide catheter such that it contacts at least a portion of the annulus; (c) applying non-ablative energy with the first electrode to shrink the portion of the annulus contacted by the first electrode; (d) engaging at least a portion of the opposing leaflets with the first and second grasping elements of a leaflet fastening applicator; and (e) applying non-ablative energy with the second electrode to fasten together the portions of the opposing leaflets engaged by the first and second grasping elements, wherein deploying the first electrode comprises deploying a rotational electrode from the guide catheter such that the rotational electrode contacts at least a portion of the annulus.