Annuloplasty ring holder

1. An annuloplasty ring holder comprising:

a head having an upper surface and an annuloplasty ring receiving surface facing opposite the upper surface; wherein the head comprises:

a central hub; and

more than one spoke radiating out from the central hub, each spoke including a portion of the annuloplasty ring receiving surface and wherein no annuloplasty ring holder structure extends between the distal end of one spoke and the distal end of another spoke; and

means for attaching an annuloplasty ring to the annuloplasty ring receiving surface.

2. The annuloplasty ring holder of claim 1 wherein the means for attaching an annuloplasty ring to the annuloplasty ring receiving surface comprises one or more suture guides operatively associated with the head and configured to position one or more sutures to removably associate an annuloplasty ring with the annuloplasty ring receiving surface.

3. The annuloplasty ring holder of claim 1 wherein the means for attaching an annuloplasty ring to the annuloplasty ring receiving surface of a select spoke comprises at least one suture guide operatively associated with the select spoke and configured to position a suture to removably associate an annuloplasty ring with the portion of the annuloplasty ring receiving surface of the select spoke.

4. The annuloplasty ring holder of claim 3 wherein the suture guide comprises at least one hole passing through the select spoke between the upper surface and the portion of the annuloplasty ring receiving surface.

5. The annuloplasty ring holder of claim 4 wherein the suture guide further comprises a groove operatively associated with a distal end of the select spoke, the groove defining a channel for a suture to pass between the upper surface and the portion of the annuloplasty ring receiving surface.

6. The annuloplasty ring holder of claim 1 comprising five spokes.

7. The annuloplasty ring holder of claim 1 comprising six spokes.

8. The annuloplasty ring holder of claim 1 wherein the hub further comprises a circumferential suture channel.

9. The annuloplasty ring of claim 1 further comprising a handle extending from the upper surface.

10. The annuloplasty ring holder of claim 9 wherein the handle comprises a stem and an attachment member.

11. The annuloplasty ring holder of claim 10 wherein the head further comprises a central hole defined by a hub configured to receive the attachment member.

12. The annuloplasty ring holder of claim 11 wherein the head is detachable from the handle during normal use of the annuloplasty ring holder.

13. The annuloplasty ring holder of claim 10 wherein the stem is sufficiently malleable that it may be bent into a desired configuration in normal use.

14. The annuloplasty ring holder of claim 10 wherein the stem comprises a heat set shape memory metal.

15. An annuloplasty ring and holder comprising:

a head comprising;

an upper surface;

a central hub; and

more than one spoke radiating out from the central hub; wherein at least one spoke includes a portion of an annuloplasty ring receiving surface facing opposite the upper surface and wherein no annuloplasty ring holder structure extends between the distal end of one spoke and the distal end of another spoke; and

an annuloplasty ring removably associated with the annuloplasty ring receiving surface.

16. The annuloplasty ring and holder of claim 15 further comprising a ring suture removably associating the annuloplasty ring to the portion of the annuloplasty receiving surface of select spokes.

17. The annuloplasty ring and holder of claim 16 further comprising a retaining suture removably associating the ring suture to the central hub.

18. The annuloplasty ring holder of claim 17 wherein the ring suture is attached to the head, by attachment means separate from the retaining suture.

19. The annuloplasty ring holder of claim 17 wherein the retaining suture is attached to the head.

20. The annuloplasty ring holder of claim 15 further comprising a handle extending from the upper surface.

21. A method of attaching an annuloplasty ring to an annuloplasty ring holder comprising:

providing an annuloplasty ring holder having a central hub and more than one spoke having an upper surface and an annuloplasty ring receiving surface facing opposite the upper surface radiating outward from the central hub, wherein no annuloplasty ring holder structure extends between the distal end of one spoke and the distal end of another spoke; and

removably attaching an annuloplasty ring to the annuloplasty ring receiving surface.

22. The method of attaching an annuloplasty ring to an annuloplasty ring holder of claim 21 further comprising removably attaching the annuloplasty ring to the annuloplasty ring receiving surface with at least one ring suture.

23. The method of claim 22 further comprising removably attaching the ring suture to the head with a retaining suture.

24. The method of claim 21 further comprising securing the ring suture to the hub with a retaining suture.

25. A method of releasing an annuloplasty ring from an annuloplasty ring holder comprising:

providing an annuloplasty ring holder having more than one spoke with an upper surface and an annuloplasty ring receiving surface facing opposite the upper surface, an annuloplasty ring removably attached with a ring suture to the annuloplasty ring receiving surface and a retaining suture removably associating the ring suture with the annuloplasty ring holder;

severing the retaining suture thereby releasing the ring suture; and

disassociating the ring suture from the annuloplasty ring.

26. A method of releasing an annuloplasty ring from an annuloplasty ring holder comprising:

providing an annuloplasty ring holder;

providing an annuloplasty ring removably attached to the annuloplasty ring holder with one or more sutures;

severing a single suture once and severing a no other sutures; and

disassociating the annuloplasty ring holder from the annuloplasty ring.

27. The method of releasing an annuloplasty ring from an annuloplasty ring holder of claim 26 further comprising simultaneously withdrawing the annuloplasty ring holder and the severed suture from the annuloplasty ring.

28. The method of releasing an annuloplasty ring from an annuloplasty ring holder of claim 27 wherein more than one suture is attached to the annuloplasty ring holder before the step of severing only one suture and all sutures remain attached to the annuloplasty ring holder after disassociating the annuloplasty ring holder from the annuloplasty ring.

29. The method of releasing an annuloplasty ring from an annuloplasty ring holder of claim 27 wherein the annuloplasty ring is removably attached to the annuloplasty ring holder with a continuous single length of suture.

30. A method of attaching an annuloplasty ring to an annuloplasty ring holder comprising:

providing an annuloplasty ring holder;

attaching an annuloplasty ring to the annuloplasty ring holder with at least one suture such that the annuloplasty ring may be released from the annuloplasty ring holder by severing a single suture once and severing no other sutures.

31. The method of attaching an annuloplasty ring to an annuloplasty ring holder of claim 30 further comprising attaching each of the one or more sutures to the annuloplasty ring holder.

32. The method of attaching an annuloplasty ring to an annuloplasty ring holder of claim 30 further comprising attaching the annuloplasty ring to the annuloplasty ring holder with a continuous single length of suture.

33. An annuloplasty ring and holder comprising:

an annuloplasty ring holder;

an annuloplasty ring; and

one or more sutures associating the annuloplasty ring with the annuloplasty ring holder such that the annuloplasty ring holder may be disassociated from the annuloplasty ring by severing a single suture once, and severing no other sutures.

34. The annuloplasty ring and holder of claim 33 further comprising a single continuous length of suture associating the annuloplasty ring with the annuloplasty ring holder.

35. A method of releasing an annuloplasty ring from an annuloplasty ring holder comprising:

providing an annuloplasty ring holder having more than one spoke with an upper surface and an annuloplasty ring receiving surface facing opposite the upper surface, an annuloplasty ring removably attached with at least one suture to the annuloplasty ring receiving surface;

severing a single suture once thereby fully releasing the annuloplasty ring; and

disassociating the annuloplasty ring holder from the annuloplasty ring.

36. The method of releasing an annuloplasty ring from an annuloplasty ring holder of claim 35 further comprising providing an annuloplasty ring removably attached to the annuloplasty ring receiving surface with a continuous single length of suture.