Patent ID: 7527647

Claim:
A method for implanting an annuloplasty device and repairing a mitral valve, the mitral valve having a valve annulus, the valve annulus having an annulus anterior portion and an annulus posterior portion, the annulus posterior portion and the annulus anterior portion defining a mitral valve opening therebetween, the annulus posterior portion having a generally arcuate shape, the mitral valve having an anterior valve leaflet attached to the annulus anterior portion and a posterior valve leaflet attached to the annulus posterior portion, the anterior and posterior leaflets having respective anterior and posterior free margins, the anterior and posterior leaflets movable between a closed systolic configuration in which the free margins are in an approximated spatial relationship, and an open diastolic configuration in which the free margins are spaced apart to allow blood flow through the mitral valve opening generally along a valve-flow axis; the annuloplasty device comprising an anterior section and a posterior section coupled to the anterior section, the posterior and anterior sections divided along a first axis, the annuloplasty device having a maximum width dimension along the first axis, the posterior section having a generally curvilinear shape and including a permanent deformation such that the posterior section is non-planar with respect to the anterior section when viewed in a direction generally parallel to the first axis; and wherein the method comprises: i) attaching the anterior section of the annuloplasty device to the annulus anterior portion, and ii) attaching the posterior section of the annuloplasty device to the annulus posterior portion such that the permanent deformation is retained after attachment of the anterior and posterior sections to the annulus thereby fixing the annulus posterior portion into a non-planar configuration to improve coaptation of the leaflet free margins in the systolic configuration.