Annuloplasty instrument

1. A device for repairing a heart valve comprised of valve tissue including an annulus and a plurality of leaflets for allowing and preventing blood flow, the device comprising:

an implantation instrument, comprising:

a first support ring, and

a second support ring connected to said first support ring to form a coiled configuration, said first support ring configured to abut one side of the valve and said second support ring configured to abut an opposite side of the valve to thereby trap a portion of the valve tissue therebetween, and an annuloplasty implant adapted to be attached to the heart valve annulus in order to reshape the annulus and allow the leaflets to open and close properly, said annuloplasty implant being connected to the implantation instrument for insertion to the annulus, wherein the annuloplasty implant is removably attached to the second support ring of the implantation instrument such that the implantation instrument may be withdrawn from a patient after the annuloplasty implant has been attached to the heart valve annulus.

2. The device according to claim 1 , wherein said first and second support rings have generally triangular-shaped cross sections.

3. The device according to claim 1 , wherein said first and second support rings are formed from a shape memory alloy.

4. The device according to claim 1 , wherein the implantation instrument further comprises a material on at least one of said first and second support rings for reducing friction between the respective rings and the valve tissue in the longitudinal direction of the rings.

5. The device according to claim 1 , wherein opposed surfaces of said first and second support rings are roughened to facilitate engagement with the valve tissue.

6. The device according to claim 5 , further comprising a coating of cushioning material on each of said opposite surfaces.

7. The device according to claim 1 , wherein each of said first and second support rings is formed from a fabric material.

8. The device according to claim 1 , further comprising a stem, which is connected to the implantation instrument for carrying said first and second support rings into position on opposite sides of the valve.

9. The device according to claim 1 , wherein said first and second support rings are adjustable in diameter to allow adjustment of the valve annulus.

10. The device according to claim 1 , wherein the annuloplasty implant has a desired arcuate shape conforming to an arcuate shape of a portion of the annulus.

11. The device according to claim 1 , wherein the annuloplasty implant has a ring-shape conforming to the desired shape of the annulus.

12. The device according to claim 1 , wherein the annuloplasty implant is attached to the second support ring by means of a removable suture.

13. The device according to claim 1 , wherein the annuloplasty implant is arranged to be attached to the annulus by means of suture threads.

14. A kit for repairing a heart valve comprised of valve tissue including an annulus and a plurality of leaflets for allowing and preventing blood flow, the kit comprising:

an implantation instrument, comprising:

a first support ring, and

a second support ring connected to said first support ring to form a coiled configuration, said first support ring configured to abut one side of the valve and said second support ring configured to abut an opposite side of the valve to thereby trap a portion of the valve tissue therebetween, and

an annuloplasty implant adapted to be attached to the heart valve annulus in order to reshape the annulus and allow the leaflets to open and close properly,

wherein the implantation instrument is adapted to temporarily reshape the heart valve annulus for allowing the annuloplasty implant to be attached to the heart valve annulus and the implantation instrument is adapted to be withdrawn from a patient after the annuloplasty implant has been attached to the heart valve annulus.

15. A method for repairing a heart valve comprised of valve tissue including an annulus and a plurality of leaflets for allowing and preventing blood flow, said method comprising:

inserting an implantation instrument comprising a first and a second support ring connected to each other to form a coiled configuration, said instrument being inserted such that valve tissue is trapped between the first and second support rings,

attaching an annuloplasty implant to the annulus in order to reshape it, and

removing the implantation instrument.

16. The method according to claim 15 , wherein the step of inserting the instrument comprises temporarily reshaping the annulus to facilitate attachment of the annuloplasty implant to the annulus.

17. The method according to claim 15 , wherein the step of inserting comprises

inserting a first end of the first support ring through a portion of the valve tissue,

rotating the implantation instrument to position the first support ring on a first side of the valve, and

positioning the second support ring on an opposite second side of the valve.