Detachable annuloplasty ring holder

A system for holding and delivering an annuloplasty ring, comprising:

• an annuloplasty ring for implant at a mitral annulus having a generally rounded D-shaped periphery with a major axis perpendicular to a minor axis;
• a ring holder has a proximal plate opposite a distal retainer, wherein the distal retainer includes a pair of wings that extend outward from each other and attach to the proximal plate to enable movement toward and away from the proximal plate;
• and
• a truss suture secured to the holder that maintains the holder in a trussed configuration with the wings held in contact with the proximal plate, wherein the holder defines a peripheral groove in the trussed configuration sized to receive the annuloplasty ring therein, the peripheral groove being formed on a distal side by the wings, the truss suture spanning across a cutting guide projecting proximally upward from the proximal plate and being secured to the holder such that severing the truss suture at the cutting guide enables conversion of the holder from the trussed configuration to a relaxed configuration wherein the wings are free to move away from proximal plate and release the ring from the peripheral groove.