Abstract: An apparatus and a method for constructing a heart valve prepared from autologous tissue. Three tissue leaflets are held in place with tissue anchors on a tissue mounting frame having an annular base and a plurality of commissure posts extending from the base. An elastomeric sheath rests gently on the tissue leaflets to prevent the leaflets from coming off of the anchor hooks and encloses the leaflets to form valve cusps. The leaflets touch each other on a coaptation line with an angle of approximately 65° relative to the commissure post. The heart valves can be constructed intraoperatively in a short time, typically ten minutes. The low coaptation angle and the fact that the leaflets are held in place without being clamped between two unyielding members minimize stress on the tissue.

Abstract: The mooring line quick release device for quickly releasing a mooring line comprising a chamber, a mooring line support shaft and a mechanical system. The chamber, which is compact and sealed, has a first compartment and a second compartment separated by an open channel bounded by a wall of the first compartment, having formed therein a first aperture, and a wall of the second compartment, having formed therein a second aperture. The mooring line support shaft supports a mooring line wherein the mooring line support shaft has a longitudinal surface which passes through the first aperture to the second apertures via the open channel when the mooring line support shaft is changed between a first state to a second state thereof. The remotely control mechanical system serves to change the mooring-line support shaft from the second state to the first state via a third state for quickly releasing mooring line.