Patent ID: 7951196

Claim:
A method of correcting mitral valve prolapse wherein a posterior leaflet of the mitral valve is causing mitral regurgitation, comprising: providing an annuloplasty ring having: a rounded ring body arranged in atrial plan view around a flow axis defining an upward direction and a downward direction, the downward direction corresponding to the direction of blood flow through the mitral valve annulus when the annuloplasty ring is implanted; an anterior segment extending between two trigones and adapted to be implanted against the anterior aspect of the mitral annulus; a posterior portion opposite the anterior segment adapted to be implanted against the posterior aspect of the mitral annulus, wherein the posterior portion defines a bow that curves both outward and upward relative to adjacent sections of the ring, the bow being centered in the posterior portion, wherein the ring body defines a modified D-shape in atrial plan view with the anterior segment defining a relatively straight side as compared with the posterior portion, and with a minor axis extending between and bisecting the anterior segment and posterior portion and a major axis extending perpendicularly thereto, the major and minor axes being generally perpendicular to the flow axis, and wherein the outward bow of the posterior portion creates a minor axis to major axis dimension ratio of between 3.44:4 (86%) and 3.6:4 (90%); and a suture-permeable exterior on the ring body for securing the annuloplasty ring to the mitral annulus; delivering the annuloplasty ring to the mitral annulus; and securing the annuloplasty ring to the mitral annulus using the suture-permeable exterior such that the posterior portion pulls the periphery of the posterior leaflet of the mitral valve outward and upward and reduces the mitral regurgitation.