Post-implantation tension adjustment in cardiac implants

A method of treating a heart of a patient, comprising:

• implanting a first tissue anchor in cardiac tissue of the patient, the first tissue anchor attached to one or more tethers that are fixed to a coupling element;
• implanting a second tissue anchor in the patient;
• coupling the coupling element to a first coupling site of the second tissue anchor, thereby coupling the first tissue anchor to the second tissue anchor via the one or more tethers;
• and
• thereafter, after allowing at least 24 hours for tissue growth on the first tissue anchor to strengthen anchoring of the first tissue anchor in the cardiac tissue, increasing tension between the first and the second tissue anchors by decoupling the coupling element from the first coupling site and coupling the coupling element to a second coupling site of the second tissue anchor,
• wherein the second tissue anchor comprises a stent that comprises a plurality of struts, which define the first and the second coupling sites,
• wherein at least one of the struts is oriented axially along the stent, and the axially-oriented strut defines the first and the second coupling sites, and
• wherein the axially-oriented strut is wider than others of the struts so as to serve as a backbone for the stent.