Patent ID: 6890353

Claim:
A method for reducing mitral regurgitation, said method comprising the steps of: providing a cinching device comprising a distal anchor, a proximal anchor, and a flexible body extending therebetween, said distal anchor configured for positioning distal to the distal end of the coronary sinus and the proximal anchor configured for positioning at the coronary ostium, with said flexible body configured to extend through the coronary sinus between said distal anchor and said proximal anchor, and further wherein said proximal anchor is configured for ratcheting action relative to said flexible body, whereby the length of said flexible body between said distal anchor and said proximal anchor may be reduced; positioning said distal anchor distal to the distal end of the coronary sinus and penetrating through the distal end wall of the coronary sinus and positioning said proximal anchor at the coronary ostium, with said flexible body extending through the coronary sinus between said distal anchor and said proximal anchor; and cinching said flexible body so as to reduce the length of said flexible body between said distal anchor and said proximal anchor, whereby a force is exerted on the posterior annulus so as to reduce mitral regurgitation.