Device and method for treatment of diastolic heart failure

A method for improving diastolic function of a ventricle of a heart of a patient, comprising:

• percutaneously implanting within the ventricle an implant comprising one or more resilient force-applying elements for exerting a longitudinal force to (1) an atrioventricular fibrous structure and (2) tissue at an apical region of the heart, in order to augment longitudinal motion of an atrioventricular plane of an atrioventricular valve of the heart, by:
• positioning a caudal end portion of the implant at the tissue at the apical region;
• and
• positioning an opposite end portion of the implant that is opposite the caudal end portion, at the atrioventricular fibrous structure,
• such that:
• during ventricular systole, the one or more resilient force-applying elements stores energy by compressing, and
• during ventricular diastole, the one or more resilient force-applying elements self-expand longitudinally, to longitudinally push against (1) the atrioventricular fibrous structure and (2) the tissue at the apical region in order to augment the longitudinal motion of the atrioventricular plane of the atrioventricular valve.