Patent ID: 11872132
Assignee: EDWARDS LIFESCIENCES CORPORATION
Field: Medical technology (Instruments)
Classification: CPC A | IPC A

Claim 0:
1. A method of implanting a prosthetic annuloplasty ring at a native valve annulus, comprising:
providing the annuloplasty ring having:
a ring core made of a relatively rigid material defining a discontinuous periphery around a blood flow orifice, the ring core having a first free end separated from a second free end across a gap, and
a suture-permeable interface that surrounds the ring core along its length and extends circumferentially from both free ends so as to project into the gap and form floppy regions;

advancing the annuloplasty ring to the native valve annulus; and
securing the annuloplasty ring against the native valve annulus, including placing sutures through the floppy regions.