| abstract |
A holding device for treating mitral valve regurgitation includes an anchoring portion and flexible arm portions. Upon deployment in the mitral valve, the arm portions assume a hook-shaped configuration and hold the leaflets in proximity to each other. One embodiment of the invention includes a method for preloading the holding device in a delivery catheter and deploying the device through the transverse axis of the mitral valve, allowing the arm portions of the holding device to grasp the mitral valve leaflets and hold them in proximity to each other, and thereby reduce both the cross sectional area of the mitral valve and regurgitation of blood through the valve. |