An apparatus for affixing a cord to an annulus, the apparatus comprising: a cord having a distal loop portion ; at least four anchors distributed about the cord, wherein each of the at least four anchors is configured to anchor a respective region of the cord to the annulus or to tissue adjacent to the annulus; at least four anchor launchers , each of the anchor launchers having a distal end, wherein each of the anchor launchers is configured to launch a respective one of the at least four anchors out of the anchor launcher's distal end so that the respective anchor becomes embedded in the annulus or the tissue adjacent to the annulus; at least four support arms , each of the support arms is shaped and arranged to support a respective one of the at least four anchor launchers so that the at least four support arms hold the distal ends of the anchor launchers at positions that correspond to a shape of the annulus, with the distal ends of the anchor launchers distributed about a perimeter of the shape of the annulus; and at least four flexible radio-opaque protrusions , each of the protrusions is arranged with respect to a respective one of the at least four anchor launchers so that the protrusion is free to move from a relaxed state to a deflected state, wherein in the relaxed state the protrusion protrudes distally beyond the distal end of the respective anchor launcher , and wherein each of the protrusions is shaped and arranged so that progressive advancement of the respective anchor launcher in a distal direction beyond a point at which the protrusion makes contact with the annulus or the tissue adjacent to the annulus results in progressive deflection of the protrusion , characterized in that in the relaxed state, each of the protrusions is bent at an angle between 5° and 20° with respect to a longitudinal axis of the respective anchor launcher . a cord having a distal loop portion ; at least four anchors distributed about the cord, wherein each of the at least four anchors is configured to anchor a respective region of the cord to the annulus or to tissue adjacent to the annulus; at least four anchor launchers , each of the anchor launchers having a distal end, wherein each of the anchor launchers is configured to launch a respective one of the at least four anchors out of the anchor launcher's distal end so that the respective anchor becomes embedded in the annulus or the tissue adjacent to the annulus; at least four support arms , each of the support arms is shaped and arranged to support a respective one of the at least four anchor launchers so that the at least four support arms hold the distal ends of the anchor launchers at positions that correspond to a shape of the annulus, with the distal ends of the anchor launchers distributed about a perimeter of the shape of the annulus; and at least four flexible radio-opaque protrusions , each of the protrusions is arranged with respect to a respective one of the at least four anchor launchers so that the protrusion is free to move from a relaxed state to a deflected state, wherein in the relaxed state the protrusion protrudes distally beyond the distal end of the respective anchor launcher , and wherein each of the protrusions is shaped and arranged so that progressive advancement of the respective anchor launcher in a distal direction beyond a point at which the protrusion makes contact with the annulus or the tissue adjacent to the annulus results in progressive deflection of the protrusion , characterized in that in the relaxed state, each of the protrusions is bent at an angle between 5° and 20° with respect to a longitudinal axis of the respective anchor launcher . <EOS>