ACCESS TO THE LEFT ATRIUM AND REDUCTION OF MITRAL VALVE LEAFLET MOBILITY

摘要

Disclosed are a method for engaging cardiac valve leaflets, including a) directing a distal end of an elongated catheter body of a leaflet-engaging device into a coronary sinus of a heart, b) passing a first leaflet-engaging component located proximate to the distal end of the elongated catheter body of the leaflet-engaging device through cardiac tissue separating the coronary sinus and a left atrium of the heart to enter a left atrium of the heart, and c) engaging a first cardiac valve leaflet with the first leaflet-engaging component, thereby engaging at least one cardiac valve leaflet. Related apparatus and methods are also described.