Patent ID: 8105376

Claim:
A holder for an annuloplasty band including a band-retaining plate having first and second oppositely facing surfaces connected by an edge surface forming a perimeter of the first and second surfaces, the band retaining plate comprising: an arcuate segment defining an arcuate portion of a band engaging surface provided on the first surface and extending along a portion of the perimeter of the band retaining plate, and means for retaining an annuloplasty band to said band engaging surface; and first and second cut-out regions of the perimeter provided at first and second ends of the arcuate segment, respectively, for defining access areas with access provided to end portions of an annuloplasty band when supported by the band retaining plate as positioned along the band engaging surface; wherein the cut-out regions each define a transition along the perimeter of the band retaining plate from a perimeter portion of the arcuate segment to a perimeter portion of a trailing segment that is located between the first and second ends of the arcuate segment, the cut-out regions each having a first perimeter edge portion extending inwardly from the perimeter portion of the arcuate segment and a second perimeter edge portion extending inwardly from the perimeter portion of the trailing segment to intersect with the first perimeter edge portion of the cut-out region.