Patent ID: 7799073

Claim:
An annuloplasty system for repairing incompetent heart valves, comprising: (a) an adjustable heart valve reinforcing device adapted to be surgically implanted around a heart valve annulus and to reduce the circumference thereof by plicating annular tissue underneath the heart valve reinforcing device, wherein the valve reinforcing device includes: (i) a plurality of individual suture support components, wherein the plurality of suture support components includes: a) at least one anchor component, wherein the at least one anchor component further includes at least two channels passing lengthwise therethrough; and b) a plurality of intermediate components adapted to be implanted into the heart valve annulus after the anchor component, wherein each intermediate component further includes at least two channels passing lengthwise therethrough; and (b) anchoring means for attaching each individual suture support component in the plurality of suture support components around the heart valve annulus, wherein the anchoring means is integrated into each suture support component prior to implantation of the heart valve reinforcing device around a heart valve annulus, and wherein the anchoring means includes: (i) at least two sutures pre-attached to the at least one anchor component, wherein at least one of the sutures includes a surgical needle attached thereto; and (ii) at least two sutures pre-attached to each of the plurality of the intermediate components wherein at least one of the sutures includes a surgical needle attached thereto; and (c) constricting means for reducing the circumference of the adjustable heart valve reinforcing device, wherein a portion the constricting means passes through each individual suture support component and is operative to further reduce the circumference of the adjustable heart valve reinforcing device following implantation thereof around a heart valve annulus, and wherein the constricting means includes: (i) at least two supportive drawstrings, wherein one end of each drawstring is attached to one end of the at least one anchor component, wherein the drawstrings pass through the two channels in each intermediate component, and wherein the ends of the drawstrings are tied together over a final individual suture support component after the heart valve repair is completed.