Implant holder assembly with actuator for heart valve repair and replacement

An articulating implant holder system for heart valve repair, comprising:

• an annuloplasty ring configured to be secured to a heart valve annulus;
• an implant holder having a bottom portion and a top portion, the annuloplasty ring secured to the bottom portion of the implant holder;
• an articulating handle assembly comprising a handle and a swivel, the swivel having a latching feature, the handle pivotably secured to the swivel at a first location, a connector pivotably secured to the swivel at a second location different from the first location, and an actuating cable secured between the handle and the connector to move the swivel from a first position relative to the handle to a second position relative to the handle;
• and
• a latch removably secured to the implant holder;
• wherein the latch is secured to the top portion of the implant holder by a release suture that is accessible to cutting from above by a surgeon;
• and
• wherein the latching feature of the swivel is configured to permanently snap on to the latch.

An articulating implant holder system for heart valve repair, comprising:

• an annuloplasty ring configured to be secured to a heart valve annulus;
• an implant holder having a bottom portion and a top portion, the annuloplasty ring secured to the bottom portion of the implant holder;
• and
• an articulating handle assembly comprising a handle and a swivel, the swivel having a latching feature, the handle pivotably secured to the swivel at a first location, a connector pivotably secured to the swivel at a second location different from the first location, and an actuating cable secured between the handle and the connector to move the swivel from a first position relative to the handle to a second position relative to the handle;
• wherein the articulating handle assembly is mounted on the top portion of the implant holder and is secured by a suture, the suture threaded across a suture mount of the swivel that forms a single cutting point gap, down through the implant holder, and back up through the implant holder to a base of the swivel opposite the suture mount to secure the swivel to the implant holder and to permit release of the articulating handle assembly from the implant holder at a single cutting point at the suture mount.