Patent ID: 7713298
Filing Date: 2010-05-11
Classification: A61F

Abstract:
1. A method of treating a patient's cardiac valve, said method comprising: providing an annuloplasty implant controllably adjustable between a first configuration and a second configuration, said annuloplasty implant comprising: a posterior portion; an anterior portion; and first and second lateral portions connecting said posterior and anterior portions, wherein a major axis intersects each of said first and second lateral portions and a minor axis, which is perpendicular to the major axis, intersects said posterior and anterior portions; attaching said annuloplasty implant while in said first configuration to or near a valve annulus in a heart; wherein said first lateral portion is attached to or near a first commissure of said valve annulus, said second lateral portion is attached to or near a second commissure of said valve annulus, said anterior portion is attached to or near an anterior leaflet of said valve annulus, and said posterior portion is attached to or near a posterior leaflet of said valve annulus; and changing said annuloplasty implant from said first configuration to said second configuration by applying energy to said annuloplasty implant; wherein a distance between said first and second lateral portions along said major axis is increased in transforming from said first to said second configuration such that said first and second commissures are pulled away from each other and wherein a distance between said posterior and anterior portions along said minor axis is decreased such that said posterior and anterior leaflets are drawn closer to one another to improve coaptation.