Patent ID: 8568476

Claim:
A method of delivering a cardiac implant to a target annulus, comprising: preparing an assembly of a cardiac implant and template for delivery, the template having an upper, proximal face and a lower, distal face and a peripheral edge sized and adapted to receive the cardiac implant in conformal contact therewith, the template having a single cutting well adjacent the peripheral edge defined by a pair of spaced apart walls extending upward from the proximal face, wherein a flexible connecting filament anchored to the template holds the cardiac implant against the peripheral edge and bridges the cutting well, the template further including a coupler on the proximal face to which a handle member connects, the coupler being located adjacent the peripheral edge diametrically opposite the single cutting well; connecting a handle member to the coupler; distally advancing the cardiac implant and template assembly into proximity with the target annulus; and severing the flexible connecting filament at the cutting well thus releasing the cardiac implant from the template with a single severing step.