Cardiac leaflet coapters

A method for treating a native atrioventricular valve of a heart, the method comprising:

• advancing, to within the heart, a coaptation-assist device that comprises a ventricular anchor, which comprises (a) one or more wires, (b) a proximal subannular anchor, which comprises a digitate anchor that (i) is defined at least in part by at least one of the one or more wires, and (ii) is shaped so as to define a plurality of fingers having a plurality of curved superior peaks, and (c) a distal anchor;
• positioning the ventricular anchor in a ventricle of the heart such that:
• the proximal subannular anchor is positioned at least partially in a target subannular space defined by a target native leaflet of the native atrioventricular valve and a superior portion of a ventricular wall of the ventricle, such that (i) the curved superior peaks point in a superior direction and engage a subannular surface of the target native leaflet, and (ii) one or more of the fingers engage chordae tendineae that extend between the target native leaflet and the superior portion of the ventricular wall, so as to stabilize the coaptation-assist device,
• the distal anchor is positioned partially against the ventricular wall outside the target subannular space, so as to push on the proximal subannular anchor to help anchor the proximal subannular anchor in place within the target subannular space;
• and
• positioning a neo-leaflet of the coaptation-assist device such that the neo-leaflet at least partially replaces function of the target native leaflet by providing a surface of coaptation for one or more opposing native leaflets that oppose the target native leaflet, when supported and anchored in place by the ventricular anchor.