US 7,569,062 B1
	Mitral and tricuspid valve repair
Stephen T. Kuehn, Woodbury, Minn. (US); Thomas F. Hinnenkamp, White Bear Lake, Minn. (US); William R. Holmberg, New Richmond, Wis. (US); Darrin J. Bergman, Shoreview, Minn. (US); and Terry L. Shepherd, Shoreview, Minn. (US)
Assigned to St. Jude Medical, Inc., St. Paul, Minn. (US)
Filed on Oct. 23, 2000, as Appl. No. 9/694,293.
Application 09/694293 is a continuation in part of application No. 09/115820, filed on Jul. 15, 1998, granted, now 6,165,183.
Int. Cl. A61B 17/10 (2006.01)

U.S. Cl. 606—139  [623/2.11; 623/2.12]

23 Claims

1. A heart valve leaflet fastener comprising at least one pair of arms, at least one arm of the pair of arms having a tapered protrusion extending toward the other arm of the pair of arms and the other arm of the at least one pair of arms having a tapered slot for accepting the tapered protrusion therein for fastening two adjacent tissue heart valve leaflets, wherein the arms pivot from one orientation to a gripping position with ends of respective paired arms being directed toward each other such that the tapered protrusion positions within the tapered slot to grip the two adjacent tissue heart valve leaflets.