Orientation device for use in mitral valve repair

A method of positioning an orientation device relative to a mitral valve, the orientation device including a catheter having a distal end configured for entering the heart and a proximal end for manipulating the device, the catheter including two commissural arms at or near the distal end, the method comprising the steps of:

• extending the distal end of the catheter through the mitral valve from one of the left ventricle into the left atrium of a heart and the left atrium into the left ventricle of a heart, the catheter having at least one pressure sensor at or near its distal end,
• taking an initial pressure measurement in the left ventricle and an initial pressure measurement in the left atrium using the at least one pressure sensor,
• extending within the mitral valve the arms from the distal end of the catheter which arms project outwardly in generally opposite directions and are shaped to be locatable within a mitral valve commissure and have an indentation shaped to extend at least partially about a mitral valve commissure,
• measuring pressure in one or both of the left ventricle and left atrium and comparing the measurement to the corresponding initial pressure measurement,
• rotating the arms within the mitral valve if the measurement is not substantially similar to the corresponding initial pressure measurement,
• repeating the steps of measuring pressure in one or both of the left ventricle and left atrium,
• comparing the measurement to the corresponding initial pressure measurement and rotating the arms within the mitral valve if the measurement is not substantially similar to the corresponding initial pressure measurement until the measurement is substantially similar to the corresponding initial pressure measurement,
• and moving the arms axially within the valve until the indentation in each arm extends about a mitral valve commissure.