Importance

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Abstract

An implant for treating insufficiency of a heart valve, in particular of the mitral valve, has an elongate body which can be converted from a first, substantially elongated and substantially flexible state to a second state with a reduced bending radius. The implant also has a flexible tensioning element extending along the body for the purpose of converting the body from the first state to the second state. The body is made up of a plurality of elements which are arranged in series to form a chain and which, in the first state, are movable relative to one another. In the second state of the body, the tensioning element tensions the elements with respect to one another so as form an arc, said elements being substantially immovable relative to one another in the second state and forming, on an internal radius face of the arc, a substantially continuous planar support surface.

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First Claim