Patent ID: 7125421

Claim:
A tissue connecting device for use with an elongate delivery device on tissue at a target site, the device comprising: an elongate member deliverable to the target site via the elongate delivery device, said elongate member assuming a first substantially linear configuration while engaged with said delivery device and a second substantially circular configuration defining a first support ring and a second support ring when removed from the delivery device; wherein the elongate member has a first support ring radial thickness different from a second support ring radial thickness, said first support ring configured to abut against one side of the target tissue and said second support ring configured to abut against an opposite side of the target tissue to thereby capture a portion of the target tissue therebetween; at least one suture coupled to the elongate member; and wherein said first support ring is coupled to said second ring via a wire extending radially towards the center of the two rings in a manner sufficient to pass through a non-tissue center of the targeted valve.