Abstract: A sternal retractor for applying an opening force evenly along the respective edges of a patient's sternum during heart surgery comprises a curved rack having a length, a width, and a thickness, wherein the rack is curved in the thickness direction, hinged arms mounted to the rack, a cog mechanism for forcing one of the arms to move along the rack, and retractor blades pivotally mounted to the arms. An atrial retractor which are used to retract the left and right atrium connects to an arm of the sternal retractor by an H-shaped mounting rod assembly. The assembly comprises two elongated rods mounted in spaced parallel relationship by a clamp proximate the center of the rods. A ball clamp associated with the sternal retractor and atrial retractor comprises locking discoid blocks for releasably interconnecting a plurality of rods together.

Abstract: Adjustable, flexible mitral and tricuspid annuloplasty rings having internal drawstrings that emerge from the rings on the annular faces so that the drawstring knots are out of the bloodstream, the drawstrings being contained in clearly marked channels, the mitral ring having a curved semi-flexible stiffener member in the anterior segment to maintain intertrigonal distance during implantation, the plane of the anterior segment lying at an angle of about 30.degree.-75.degree. to the plane of the posterior segment, arcing up across the anterior leaflet to prevent outflow tract obstruction.