Annuloplasty ring and method

A combination annuloplasty ring and holder for use by a surgeon in conjunction with annuloplasty surgery performed on a patient's heart valve defining a valve annulus, the combination comprising:

• an annuloplasty ring including:
• a sheath,
• an arcuate stiffening element within the sheath, the stiffening element defining discrete first and second ends that are turned back toward one another and that are separated by a lateral spacing, wherein the stiffening element, in a natural state, provides a first segment of the prosthesis that defines a majority of an arcuate annular shape of the annuloplasty prosthesis,
• a tensioning member extending between the stiffening element ends,
• wherein the tensioning member is characterized as being more flexible than the stiffening element and is configured as a linear element in a taut state between the turned-back first and second ends of the stiffening element in its natural shape in which the tensioning member is substantially non-extensible so as to limit expansion of the lateral spacing when the annuloplasty ring is subjected to an expansive movement external force, while permitting the first and second ends to flex toward one another when subjected to a compressive movement external force, and
• a holder selectively maintaining the annuloplasty ring, the holder including a ring-retaining plate forming a first curvature in a first plane corresponding generally to a curvature of the stiffening element, and a second curvature in a second plane differing from the first plane for retaining the tensioning member in a curved orientation.

An annuloplasty ring for implantation to a mitral valve annulus, the annuloplasty ring comprising:

• a sheath,
• an arcuate stiffening element within the sheath, the stiffening element defining discrete first and second ends that are turned back toward one another and that are separated by a lateral spacing, wherein the stiffening element, in a natural state, provides a first segment of the prosthesis that defines a majority of an arcuate annular shape of the annuloplasty prosthesis;
• and
• a tensioning member extending between the stiffening element ends, the tensioning member being characterized as being more flexible than the stiffening element and is configured as a linear element in a taut state between the turned-back first and second ends of the stiffening element in its natural shape in which the tensioning member is substantially non-extensible so as to limit expansion of the lateral spacing when the annuloplasty ring is subjected to an expansive movement external force, while permitting the first and second ends to flex toward one another when subjected to a compressive movement external force;
• wherein the annuloplasty ring defines:
• an anterior segment along a region corresponding with the tensioning member, the anterior segment adapted to be implanted at an anterior aspect of the mitral valve annulus,
• a posterior segment along a region corresponding with the stiffening element, the posterior segment adapted to be implanted at a posterior aspect of the mitral valve annulus;
• and further wherein the stiffening element is adapted to remodel the mitral valve annulus and the tensioning member is configured to conform to a natural anatomy of the anterior aspect of the mitral valve annulus.