Apparatus and method for treating a regurgitant heart valve

A method for treating regurgitation of blood flow through a diseased heart valve, the diseased heart valve including an annulus, an anterior valve leaflet, a posterior valve leaflet and a subvalvular structure, said method comprising the steps of:

• providing an apparatus comprising a substantially annular support member and at least one infra-annular support member having a free end and being securely connected thereto at a first location, the infra-annular support member being sized and dimensioned to contact the inferior free edge of the posterior mitral leaflet, the substantially annular support member having at least a first intermediate portion, a second intermediate portion and a posterior end portion extending between the first and second intermediate portions, wherein the at least one infra-annular support member have a rigid or semi-rigid configuration that can be selectively adjusted to maintains a final shape;
• and
• attaching the substantially annular support member to the annulus of the diseased heart valve so that the at least one infra-annular support member extends below at least one of the posterior and anterior valve leaflets and across or behind the at least one subvalvular structure to prevent or substantially reduce regurgitation of blood flow through the diseased heart valve.