Device and method for reducing cardiac valve regurgitation

A medical procedure for reducing cardiac valve regurgitation including the steps of:

• measuring a geometry of a dilated cardiac valve of a patient including the shape and size of a dilated annulus thereof;
• determining a downsized shape and size of said dilated annulus;
• selecting a resilient annuloplasty implant having in a tissue engaging conformation a shape and size to be arranged at said dilated annulus based on said determined downsized shape and size of said dilated annulus;
• introducing said selected annuloplasty implant in a delivery device in a compressed state via a catheter to said dilated cardiac valve;
• releasing an aggregate of a distal portion of said delivery device and said annuloplasty implant in a stretched state in said delivery device from said catheter to said dilated cardiac valve such that said implant assumes an expanded shape;
• positioning said aggregate at said dilated annulus;
• releasing anchoring elements of said annuloplasty implant and anchoring said anchoring elements into said dilated annulus;
• reducing the size of said delivery device or annuloplasty implant to reshape said annulus to said downsized shape;
• determining a reduction of said cardiac valve regurgitation;
• applying a catheter-based medical system for reducing said cardiac valve regurgitation, said system including said resilient annuloplasty implant, said resilient annuloplasty implant being a curvilinear shaped annuloplasty implant for reducing the size of said dilated annulus of said dilated cardiac valve for reducing said regurgitation, said anchoring elements having resilient anchoring elements, and said delivery device for said annuloplasty implant having a distal curvilinear shaped hollow portion, said annuloplasty implant being mounted in said hollow portion, said delivery device having an annular opening arranged to be in apposition against said dilated annulus of said dilated cardiac valve;
• releasably mounting said annuloplasty implant in said hollow portion with said resilient anchoring elements arranged in a restrained spring-loaded delivery conformation in said hollow portion for said introducing and releasing;
• and
• releasing said resilient anchoring elements and arranging said resilient anchoring elements in a tissue engaging conformation protruding out of said opening into said dilated annulus for said releasing.