Patent ID: 7186264

Claim:
A method for reducing mitral regurgitation comprising: inserting apparatus into the coronary sinus of a patient in the vicinity of the posterior leaflet of the mitral valve, the apparatus being adapted to move at least a portion of the coronary sinus anteriorly, whereby to move the posterior annulus anteriorly and thereby improve leaflet coaptation, the apparatus comprising a plurality of elements forming a straightening device having a first end and a second end, the straightening device defining a longitudinal axis between the first end and the second end, and the straightening device defining a first side and a second side on opposing sides of the longitudinal axis, the first side defining a series of gaps between the plurality of elements, the straightening device having an insertion configuration comprising orienting the gaps away from the mitral valve so as to allow the straightening device to curve as required to follow a natural curvature of the coronary sinus, the first end configured to allow rotation of the straightening device, the first end having a given length configured to extend outside of the coronary sinus with the second end and the plurality of elements forming the straightening device disposed within the coronary sinus, the straightening device having a straightened configuration wherein the gaps are oriented toward the mitral valve so as to force the straightening device to straighten within the coronary sinus, and wherein the straightening device is configured to rotate within the coronary sinus between the insertion configuration and the straightened configuration, the plurality of elements being separated apart from one another during insertion into the coronary sinus and thereafter closed together in situ so as to form the apparatus; wherein each of the elements has a length such that it is, by itself, insufficient to significantly move the coronary sinus.