Edwards Lifesciences Corporation
Methods of delivering a flexible annuloplasty ring

Abstract:

Methods of delivering and using an annuloplasty ring to reshape a valve annulus are disclosed. The methods include obtaining an annuloplasty ring having an elastic inner core member. The elastic inner core member can be defined by a multi-stranded braided cable. The inner core member has an unstressed closed or open ring shape and a first elastic modulus that enables the core member to be compressed from the unstressed ring shape into a stressed narrow shape and enables the annuloplasty ring to reshape a native heart valve annulus. The methods can include converting the annuloplasty ring from the unstressed ring shape into the stressed narrow shape, passing the annuloplasty ring through an access tube positioned with a distal tip adjacent a native valve annulus, and expelling the annuloplasty ring from the distal tip of the access tube so that it self-converts back towards the unstressed ring shape.