Patent ID: 9662209
Date: 2017-05-30
CPC Classifications: A61B,A61F

Claim:
1. A method comprising performing the following steps during a transcatheter procedure: positioning an annuloplasty structure along an annulus of an atrioventricular valve of a subject, the annuloplasty structure including a sleeve having a lumen and a longitudinal axis; anchoring the annuloplasty structure to the annulus using a plurality of tissue anchors; separately from the anchoring, advancing an elongate member into the lumen and along the longitudinal axis of the sleeve, such that (a) an elongate contraction-restricting element of the elongate member occupies a longitudinal contraction-restricted portion of the sleeve, and (b) the elongate member is disposed entirely within the sleeve; and thereafter, contracting a contractible portion of the sleeve, while the contraction-restricting element restricts contraction of the contraction-restricted portion of the sleeve, wherein the elongate member is not within the sleeve during the positioning of the annuloplasty structure along the annulus.