US 12,121,231 B2
Methods and devices for tissue grasping and assessment
Eric A. Goldfarb, San Francisco, CA (US); Troy L. Thornton, San Francisco, CA (US); Alfred H. Raschdorf, St. James, NY (US); Jaime E. Sarabia, Mableton, GA (US); John P. Madden, Palo Alto, CA (US); Ferolyn T. Powell, San Francisco, CA (US); Brian B. Martin, Boulder Creek, CA (US); Sylvia Erickson, San Carlos, CA (US); Jan Komtebedde, Los Gatos, CA (US); and Yen C. Liao, San Mateo, CA (US)
Assigned to EVALVE, INC., Santa Clara, CA (US)
Filed by EVALVE, INC., Santa Clara, CA (US)
Filed on Apr. 18, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/723,402.
Application 12/575,100 is a division of application No. 11/237,213, filed on Sep. 27, 2005, granted, now 7,635,329, issued on Dec. 22, 2009.
Application 17/723,402 is a continuation of application No. 16/912,361, filed on Jun. 25, 2020, granted, now 11,304,715.
Application 16/912,361 is a continuation of application No. 16/279,523, filed on Feb. 19, 2019, granted, now 11,484,331.
Application 16/279,523 is a continuation of application No. 14/070,936, filed on Nov. 4, 2013, abandoned.
Application 14/070,936 is a continuation of application No. 13/239,514, filed on Sep. 22, 2011, abandoned.
Application 13/239,514 is a continuation of application No. 12/575,100, filed on Oct. 7, 2009, granted, now 8,052,592, issued on Nov. 8, 2011.
Claims priority of provisional application 60/613,867, filed on Sep. 27, 2004.
Prior Publication US 2022/0240920 A1, Aug. 4, 2022
Int. Cl. A61B 17/29 (2006.01); A61B 17/00 (2006.01); A61B 17/04 (2006.01); A61B 17/08 (2006.01); A61B 17/28 (2006.01); A61B 90/00 (2016.01); A61F 2/24 (2006.01); A61B 17/22 (2006.01); A61B 17/30 (2006.01); A61B 17/34 (2006.01)
CPC A61B 17/0401 (2013.01) [A61B 17/08 (2013.01); A61B 17/29 (2013.01); A61B 2017/00243 (2013.01); A61B 2017/00783 (2013.01); A61B 2017/081 (2013.01); A61B 2017/22088 (2013.01); A61B 2017/22089 (2013.01); A61B 2017/22098 (2013.01); A61B 2017/2825 (2013.01); A61B 2017/2926 (2013.01); A61B 2017/2931 (2013.01); A61B 2017/306 (2013.01); A61B 17/3478 (2013.01); A61B 2090/3908 (2016.02); A61B 2090/3925 (2016.02); A61F 2/2478 (2013.01); A61F 2/2487 (2013.01); A61F 2210/0014 (2013.01); A61F 2220/0016 (2013.01); A61F 2230/001 (2013.01)] 17 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A fixation device, comprising:
a first distal element and a second distal element;
a first proximal element moveable relative to the first distal element between a first position of the first proximal element and a second position of the first proximal element to grasp a first leaflet of a heart valve in a first target area defined by the first proximal element and the first distal element;
a second proximal element moveable relative to the second distal element between a first position of the second proximal element and a second position of the second proximal element to grasp a second leaflet of the heart valve in a second target area defined by the second proximal element and the second distal element;
a first indicator coupled with the first distal element to indicate a presence of the first leaflet in the first target area, wherein the first indicator extends into the first target area and is configured to pass through the first distal element by the presence of the first leaflet grasped within the first target area; and
a second indicator coupled with the second distal element to indicate a presence of the second leaflet in the second target area, wherein the second indicator extends into the second target area and is configured to pass through the second distal element by the presence of the second leaflet grasped within the second target area.