Patent ID: 8048255

Claim:
A method of making an implantable annuloplasty suture guide, the annuloplasty suture guide being configured to lie against at least a portion of an annulus defined by tissue surrounding a human heart valve, the method comprising: a) providing an elongate biocompatible ribbon comprising a braided, heat settable material; b) providing a fixture, the fixture comprising a heat conducting material defining an elongate cavity having a curved length-wise configuration corresponding to the at least a portion of the annulus defined by tissue surrounding a human heart valve, whereby the elongate cavity has at least a non-linear lengthwise segment; c) placing the elongate biocompatible ribbon in the cavity; and d) eating the fixture to provide a select temperature for a select time in the cavity, the select temperature and the select time being sufficient to heatset the elongate biocompatible ribbon in the curved length-wise configuration.