Patent ID: 8585755

Claim:
A method of implanting a prosthetic apparatus at the native mitral valve region of the heart, the native mitral valve having a native annulus and native valve leaflets, the method comprising: positioning a main body of the prosthetic apparatus in a radially compressed state within the native annulus; deploying at least one ventricular anchor such that an engagement portion of the ventricular anchor is positioned behind one of the native valve leaflets and contacts a ventricular surface of the native annulus; allowing the main body to expand from the radially compressed state to a radially expanded state within the native annulus; and deploying at least one atrial anchor such that an engagement portion of the atrial anchor contacts an atrial surface of the native annulus, the engagement portions of the atrial anchor and the ventricular anchor contacting the native annulus at locations on opposite sides of the native annulus; wherein the native valve leaflets are free to seal around the main body during systole to prevent blood from flowing toward the left atrium, and wherein the native valve leaflets are free to separate from the main body during diastole to allow blood to flow around the main body into the left ventricle.