Tissue anchor for annuloplasty device

1. A tissue anchor for use with a valve-repair implant configured to be coupled to cardiac tissue of a patient, the tissue anchor comprising:

a distal tissue coupling element configured to couple the tissue anchor to the cardiac tissue by penetrating distally into the cardiac tissue; and

a proximal implant-penetrating element configured to penetrate proximally into at least a portion of the valve-repair implant and facilitate coupling of the valve-repair implant to the tissue anchor, the proximal implant-penetrating element comprising:

a protrusion protruding proximally from the distal tissue coupling element into a plane of the implant and to couple the implant to the tissue anchor; and

an implant-restraining element coupled to the protrusion, and configured to restrain the valve-repair implant from separating from the implant-penetrating element.

2. The tissue anchor according to claim 1 , wherein the implant-restraining element is shaped so as to define a distal shelf that has a transverse cross-sectional length that is larger than a transverse cross-sectional length of the protrusion, the distal shelf being configured to facilitate restricting of proximal motion of the implant along the protrusion.

3. The tissue anchor according to claim 1 , further comprising a cord removably couplable to the tissue anchor, the cord being configured to facilitate passage of the implant therealong and toward the tissue anchor.

4. The tissue anchor according to claim 3 , wherein the protrusion comprises a post.

5. The tissue anchor according to claim 4 , wherein the post has a length of between 1 and 7 mm and a greatest cross-sectional area of between 0.03 mm{circumflex over ( )}2 and 0.2 mm{circumflex over ( )}2, which length is at least 4 times the square root of the greatest cross-sectional area.

6. The tissue anchor according to claim 4 , wherein the implant-restraining element has a greatest cross-sectional area that is at least 1.5 times a greatest cross-sectional area of the post.

7. The tissue anchor according to claim 6 , further comprising a lock configured to be advanced toward the anchor and disposed between the implant and the implant-restraining element, the lock comprising:

a distal portion configured to rest against the implant; and

an expandable proximal portion having a cross-sectional area during a resting state of the lock that is larger than the greatest cross-sectional area of the post and smaller than the greatest cross-sectional area of the implant-restraining element.

8. The tissue anchor according to claim 1 , wherein the implant-restraining element comprises a barb configured to restrict proximal movement of the implant along the implant-penetrating element.

9. The tissue anchor according to claim 8 , wherein the barb comprises one or more arms that are radially expandable to rest against an external surface of the implant following coupling of the implant to the implant-penetrating element.

10. The tissue anchor according to claim 9 , wherein the arms are radially collapsible during at least a portion of the coupling of the implant to the implant-penetrating element.

11. The tissue anchor according to claim 8 , wherein the proximal implant-penetrating element comprises an elastic portion that is configured to assume a first length when relaxed, and a second, greater length when under load.

12. The tissue anchor according to claim 1 , wherein the distal tissue coupling element and the proximal implant-penetrating element are fabricated from a single piece.

13. The tissue anchor according to claim 1 , wherein the implant-restraining element is configured to pass proximally through the portion of the implant.

14. The tissue anchor according to claim 1 , where the tissue anchor is for use with a valve-repair implant selected from the group consisting of: a full annuloplasty ring, a partial annuloplasty ring, a prosthetic valve, and a docking station for a prosthetic valve.

15. A tissue anchor for use with a valve-repair implant configured to be coupled to cardiac tissue of a patient, the tissue anchor comprising:

a distal tissue coupling element configured to couple the tissue anchor to the cardiac tissue of the patient; and

a proximal implant-penetrating element configured to penetrate at least a portion of the valve-repair implant and facilitate coupling of the valve-repair implant to the tissue anchor, the proximal implant-penetrating element comprising:

a post; and

an implant-restraining element coupled to a portion of the post, the implant-restraining element being configured to restrain the valve-repair implant from separating from the implant-penetrating element, wherein the implant-restraining element has a greatest cross-sectional area that is at least 1.5 times a greatest cross-sectional area of the post.

16. The tissue anchor according to claim 15 , further comprising a cord couplable to the tissue anchor, the cord being configured to facilitate passage of the implant therealong.

17. The tissue anchor according to claim 15 , further comprising a lock configured to be advanced toward the anchor, the lock comprising a distal portion configured to rest against the implant.

18. A tissue anchor for use with a valve-repair implant configured to be coupled to cardiac tissue of a patient, the tissue anchor comprising:

a distal tissue coupling element configured to couple the tissue anchor to the cardiac tissue of the patient; and

a proximal implant-penetrating element configured to penetrate at least a portion of the valve-repair implant and facilitate coupling of the valve-repair implant to the tissue anchor, the proximal implant-penetrating element comprising:

an implant-restraining element configured to restrain the valve-repair implant from separating from the implant-penetrating element, wherein the implant-restraining element comprises a barb, the barb:

comprising one or more arms that are radially expandable to rest against an external surface of the implant following coupling of the implant to the implant-penetrating element, and

configured to restrict proximal movement of the implant along the implant-penetrating element.