Patent attributes
A catheter device for heart repair comprises a leaflet anchor for placement in a leaflet of a heart valve, wherein the leaflet anchor is coupled to the artificial chord; a mechanical gripper device for grasping the leaflet of the heart valve, wherein the gripper device comprises a leaflet anchor channel for housing the leaflet anchor in a folded configuration; and a U-rod wire with a U-shaped rod at one end of the wire, with the free end of the U-shape abutting the end of the leaflet anchor; the gripper device and leaflet anchor being arranged such that when the gripper device grasps the leaflet, the U-rod wire can be used to push the leaflet anchor out of the leaflet anchor channel to pierce the leaflet and form the leaflet anchor into an unfolded configuration permitting hooked formations of the leaflet anchor to secure the leaflet anchor in the leaflet.
