Patent ID: 8152844

Claim:
An annuloplasty ring and holder assembly, comprising: an annuloplasty ring including a suture-permeable outer cover; a template having an upper, proximal face and a lower, distal face and a peripheral edge sized and adapted to receive the annuloplasty ring in conformal contact therewith, the upper, proximal face of 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, and two spaced cleats adjacent the template peripheral edge each positioned at least 90° circumferentially around the peripheral edge from the single cutting well; and a flexible connecting filament having its free ends anchored to the two spaced cleats and a mid-portion passing through at least two points on the annuloplasty ring outer cover and emerging above the proximal face of the template at only one location where it is suspended across the single cutting well.