Patent ID: 8480732

Claim:
A transvalvular intraannular band, the transvalvular band comprising: an elongate body having a first end, a first anchoring portion located proximate the first end, a second end, a second anchoring portion located proximate the second end, and a central portion connected to the first end and the second end, wherein the central portion has a convex arcuate shape, the central portion displaced transversely from the intraannular plane which includes the mitral valve annulus and is transverse to the direction of blood flow when the band is attached to the annulus, the central portion extending generally along a second plane which is perpendicular to the intraannular plane, the second plane including the first end and the second end; wherein the first end and the second end are configured to be attached to the mitral valve annulus within the intraannular plane and the central portion is configured to be convex in the direction of the ventricle to support the mitral valve leaflets at a point displaced toward the ventricle from the intraannular plane, wherein the first end and the second end reside on a generally septal-lateral axis transverse to the coaptive edges of the mitral valve leaflets when the band is attached to the mitral valve annulus, and wherein the band does not comprise an annuloplasty ring.