Patent ID: 7329280

Claim:
A method of implanting an annuloplasty ring in a mitral valve annulus having an anterior aspect and a posterior aspect, the annulus having a dilated pathology symptomized by lengthening of the anterior-posterior dimension and a subsequent loss of coaptation between the posterior and anterior leaflets thus causing mitral regurgitation, the annulus further exhibiting a drop of the posterior aspect and consequent relaxation of the posterior muscle wall of the left ventricle, the method comprising: providing a generally oval-shaped annuloplasty ring having an anterior portion adapted to be implanted on the anterior aspect of the mitral valve annulus, a posterior portion opposite the anterior portion adapted to be implanted on the posterior aspect of the mitral valve annulus, right and left sides between the anterior and posterior portions, and transition segments between the sides and the posterior portion; wherein the annuloplasty ring is oriented about a central axis having an upward direction and a downward direction, the downward direction corresponding to the direction of blood flow through the mitral valve annulus, the ring having in plan view perpendicular to the central axis a longer dimension along a major axis than a shorter dimension along a minor axis, the ring posterior portion having an upward bow that rises upward to an axial position higher than the remainder of the ring; and, securing the annuloplasty ring with the anterior portion against the annulus anterior aspect and the posterior portion against the annulus posterior aspect so that the ring posterior portion elevates the annulus posterior aspect and re-shapes the geometry of the left ventricle.