Implant and method for improving coaptation of an atrioventricular valve

A method of improving coaptation of an atrioventricular valve, the atrioventricular valve having an annulus, a native first leaflet and a native second leaflet, the method comprising:

• providing an implant for controlling blood flow from an upstream atrial side to a downstream ventricular side of the valve, the implant comprising:
• a support structure configured to be fixed to the annulus or to the native first leaflet;
• and
• a flexible artificial leaflet structure mounted to the support structure and comprising a rim section that is shaped to coapt with the native second leaflet such that a gap between the native first leaflet and the native second leaflet is closed,
• wherein said rim section is configured to be arranged in the gap between the native first leaflet and the native second leaflet and comprises a plurality of pockets that are open towards said downstream ventricular side and capable of being filled with blood from the downstream ventricular side each time the valve is closed, and
• wherein the pockets in a center of the rim section have a greater cross-section than the pockets in side regions of the rim section;
• wherein the implant is arranged in a tubular housing,
• advancing the tubular housing by means of a catheter through a body vessel of a patient into the heart;
• deploying the implant from the tubular housing;
• and
• fixing the support structure relative to the annulus or the native first leaflet so that the artificial leaflet structure can coapt with the native second leaflet.