Flexible radio-opaque protrusions for revealing the position of a constricting cord or annulus ring prior to installation onto a cardiac valve annulus

A method for affixing a cord to an annulus, the method comprising:

• positioning, in a vicinity of the annulus, (a) a cord having a distal loop portion, (b) at least four anchors distributed about the cord, wherein each of the at least four anchors is configured to anchor a respective region of the cord to the annulus or to tissue adjacent to the annulus, (c) at least four anchor launchers, each of the anchor launchers having a distal end, wherein each of the anchor launchers is configured to launch a respective one of the at least four anchors out of the anchor launcher's distal end so that the respective anchor becomes embedded in the annulus or the tissue adjacent to the annulus, and (d) at least four flexible radio-opaque protrusions, wherein each of the protrusions is arranged with respect to a respective one of the at least four anchor launchers so that the protrusion is free to move from a relaxed state to a deflected state, wherein in the relaxed state the protrusion protrudes distally beyond the distal end of the respective anchor launcher, wherein in the relaxed state, each of the protrusions is bent at an angle between 5° and 20° with respect to a longitudinal axis of the respective anchor launcher, and wherein each of the protrusions is shaped and arranged so that progressive advancement of the respective anchor launcher in a distal direction beyond a point at which the protrusion makes contact with the annulus or the tissue adjacent to the annulus results in progressive deflection of the protrusion;
• adjusting a position of the anchor launchers until fluoroscopic images of the protrusions indicate that each of the protrusions is deflected beyond a threshold angle;
• and
• triggering each of the anchor launchers to launch a respective anchor at a time when fluoroscopic images of the protrusions indicate that each of the protrusions is deflected beyond the threshold angle.

A method for aligning a device with a target location, the method comprising:

• arranging at least three flexible radio-opaque protrusions with respect to the device so that each of the protrusions is free to move from a relaxed state to a deflected state, wherein in the relaxed state the protrusion protrudes distally beyond the device, and wherein in the relaxed state, each of the protrusions is bent at an angle between 5° and 20° with respect to a longitudinal axis of the device, and
• wherein each of the protrusions is shaped and arranged so that progressive advancement of the device in a distal direction beyond a point at which the protrusion makes contact with a structure in the target location results in progressive deflection of the protrusion, and
• wherein each of the protrusions is arranged so that when a protrusion in the deflected state is moved to a position at which the protrusion is no longer being pressed against the structure, the protrusion returns towards the relaxed state;
• positioning the device in a vicinity of the target location;
• adjusting a position of the device until fluoroscopic images of the protrusions indicate that each of the protrusions is deflected beyond a threshold angle;
• and
• releasing the device at a time when fluoroscopic images of the protrusions indicate that each of the protrusions is deflected beyond the threshold angle.