Cardiac valve repair devices with annuloplasty features and associated systems and methods

A method of deploying a valve repair device at a native mitral valve, the method comprising:

• positioning a fixation member of the valve repair device against an atrial wall in a left atrium such that the fixation member at least partially encircles an annulus of the native mitral valve, the fixation member providing an opening through which blood flows into the native mitral valve;
• and
• engaging a distal edge portion of the fixation member with tissue of the native mitral valve annulus, the fixation member comprising a spring mechanism coupled to the distal edge portion, wherein—
• the spring mechanism is maintained at least partially in a pre-stretched state by a bioabsorbable material, and
• at a time after implantation of the valve repair device, the bioabsorbable material is configured to dissolve and allow the spring mechanism to contract to a relaxed state and draw the distal edge portion and the tissue engaged therewith inward to reduce dimensions of the native mitral valve annulus.

A method of deploying a cardiac repair device at a cardiac valve, the method comprising:

• engaging a superior portion of a fixation member of the cardiac repair device with atrial wall tissue at a location spaced apart from a cardiac valve annulus, the fixation member forming a pathway along which blood flows toward or away from the cardiac valve;
• and
• engaging a distal edge portion of the fixation member with tissue of the cardiac valve annulus such that the distal edge portion encircles the cardiac valve annulus, the fixation member comprising a spring mechanism coupled to the distal edge portion, wherein—
• when the distal edge portion is initially engaged, the spring mechanism is in an expanded state having a first length, and
• at a time after implantation of the cardiac repair device, the spring mechanism is configured to contract to a relaxed state in which the spring mechanism has a second length shorter than the first length to draw the distal edge portion and the tissue engaged therewith inward.