Patent attributes
The invention is directed to devices for two minimally invasive therapeutic procedures, particularly for patients with congestive heart failure. One procedure involves providing a valve to form a passageway through the patient's left ventricular wall at the apex of the patient's heart and configured to advance instruments through the valved passageway to connect the valve leaflets of the patient's heart valve, e.g. the mitral valve, in a “Bow-Tie” configuration to prevent or minimize regurgitation through the valve. The second procedure is directed to a pacing lead with a housing and a pacing lead implanting device which are configured to pass through a trocar in the patient's chest and implanting the pacing lead on an exposed epicardial region of the patient's heart wall. The pacing lead has a penetrating electrode which is secured within the heart wall. One or both procedures may be performed on a patient with CHF. Other improved instruments include a leaflet connector with an artificial cordae tendenae strand secured to an end of the leaflet connector.
