Patent 7678145 was granted and assigned to Edwards Lifesciences on March, 2010 by the United States Patent and Trademark Office.
Devices and methods for treating heart valves include members that assist the valve in closing during at least a portion of the cardiac cycle. Such devices include members configured to alter the shape of a valve annulus, reposition at least one papillary muscle, and/or plug an orifice of the valve so as to provide a coaptation surface for the valve leaflets.