Systems and methods for applying pressure to a bodily organ

The annuloplasty system for use in open-surgical procedures, comprising:

• a tensioning member adapted to be implanted by wrapping around the heart, wherein said tensioning member comprises an elongate member forming a loop configured to be positioned around the heart;
• locking means for holding the tensioning member in tension around the heart and for permitting adjustment of tension in the tensioning member, wherein said locking means comprises a first buckle configured to engage the tensioning member at a first location, wherein said locking means comprises a second buckle configured to engage the tensioning member at a second location, and wherein said tensioning member comprises an elongate member forming a loop having a first end attached to said first buckle and a second end attached to said second buckle;
• a first portion of said tensioning member slideably received in said second buckle, the first portion being towards the first end of the tensioning member;
• and
• a second portion of said tensioning member slideably received in said first buckle, the second portion being towards the second end of the tensioning member, such that as the first buckle and the second buckle are pushed apart the tensioning member is tightened.

An annuloplasty system for use in open-surgical procedures, comprising:

• a tensioning member adapted to be implanted by wrapping around the heart, wherein said tensioning member comprises an elongate member forming a continuous loop configured to be positioned around the heart;
• a protective member through which the tensioning member passes, the protective member being of a shape-memory material that resists twisting such that a widened dimension of the protective member contacts with the heart, the protective member comprising a material visible with one or more of the following:
• fluoroscopy, CT scanning, ultrasound imaging, and/or magnetic resonance imaging;
• locking means for holding the tensioning member in tension around the heart and for permitting adjustment of tension in the tensioning member, wherein said locking means comprises a first buckle configured to engage the tensioning member at a first location.