Minimally invasive system for delivering and securing an annular implant

A device for delivering and attaching an annular implant that delivers the annular implant to a desired annulus and attaches the annular implant to the annulus by deploying at least one memory shape attachment element into the annular implant and annulus, the device comprising:

• at least one elongated barrel having a longitudinal axis, the barrel having a proximal end and a distal end defining a shaped opening;
• and
• at least one anchoring element for releasably attaching the at least one barrel to the annular implant;
• at least one elongated attachment element having spaced apart proximal and distal tips received within a portion of the barrel adjacent the shaped opening for attaching the annular implant to the annulus;
• and
• an attachment element release member within the barrel to communicate with the attachment element, the attachment element moveable along the longitudinal axis of the barrel;
• wherein the attachment element is discharged longitudinally through the shaped opening at the distal end of the barrel into the annular implant and annular tissue by manipulating the attachment element release member into engagement with the proximal tip of the attachment element, whereby the attachment element moves along the longitudinal axis of the barrel from its received position within the barrel to a discharge position outwardly of the shaped opening;
• and
• deployment members configured for conforming the annulus to match the size and shape of the annular implant prior to attaching the annular implant to the annulus.

A device for delivering an annular implant to a desired annulus, comprising:

• an annular implant defining an opening and having an adjustable dimension, wherein the annular implant comprises an adjustment mechanism configured to be releasably attached to an adjustment tool and for incrementally adjusting a size or shape of the annular implant, and wherein the device further comprises an elongated adjustment tool having a proximal end and a distal end releasably attached to the adjustment mechanism, whereby the annular implant size or shape can be incrementally adjusted by the adjustment tool;
• an elongated support member having a distal end;
• a spreading mechanism configured to be releasably disposable within the opening of the annular implant, wherein the spreading mechanism is expandable within the opening of the annular implant to conform to the size and shape of the annular implant, wherein the spreading mechanism has a distal end fixedly attached to the distal end of the elongated support member which extends through the spreading mechanism and a proximal end coupled to the support member spaced from the distal end of the support member;
• and
• means operatively associated with the spreading mechanism for reshaping an annulus to conform to the size and shape of the annular implant when delivering the annular implant on the spreading mechanism to the annulus by expanding the spreading mechanism within the opening of the annular implant.