MITRAL VALVE ANNULOPLASTY RING HAVING A POSTERIOR BOW

摘要

A mitral heart valve annuloplasty ring (30) having a posterior bow thatconforms to an abnormal posterior aspect of the mitral annulus. The ring (30)may be generally oval having a major axis and a minor axis, wherein theposterior bow may be centered along the minor axis or offset in a posteriorsection (36). The ring may be substantially planar, or may include upward bowson either side of the posterior bow. The ring may include a ring body (30)surrounded by a suture-permeable fabric sheath, and the ring body may beformed of a plurality of concentric ring elements (70a,70b,70c,70d). The ringis semi-rigid and the posterior bow is stiff enough to withstand deformationonce implanted and subjected to normal physiologic stresses. The ring elements(70a,70b,70c,70d) may be bands of semi-rigid material. A method of repairingan abnormal mitral heart valve annulus having a depressed posterior aspectincludes providing a ring with posterior bow and implanting the ring tosupport the annulus without unduly stressing the attachment sutures.