Patent ID: 7637944

Claim:
A system for repair of a patient's mitral valve comprising: a holder having a first side, a second side generally opposite the first side, the holder defining a central portion that generally defines a radial direction relative to the center portion, and an outer circumferential surface corresponding generally to the configuration of a heart mitral valve annulus, the holder comprising a substantially transparent polymer; a rigid annuloplasty ring having a metal insert and an outermost circumferential surface, the annuloplasty ring being located adjacent to and extending along the outer circumferential surface of the holder; a cuttable suture adapted to releasably secure the rigid annuloplasty ring to the outer circumferential surface of the holder, the cuttable suture including at least a portion thereof that is permanently fixed in position relative to the holder even after being cut; the first side of the holder having slots adapted to permit cutting of the cuttable suture prior to removing the rigid annuloplasty ring from the holder, and wherein no portion of the holder is located radially away from the central portion and the outermost circumferential surface of the rigid annuloplasty ring.