An apparatus for performing a procedure on a heart valve, the heart valve having an annulus and leaflets, the apparatus comprising: a tissue engaging member (12) including (a) a loop of material (160) configured to contact at least a portion of the annulus or the leaflets when the loop of material (160) is deployed, (b) a plurality of anchors (16), each of the anchors (16) having a pointy front end (46), a back end (42) and a slot (17) that runs in a front-to-back direction, wherein the front ends (46) of the anchors (16) are configured for implantation into the annulus or the leaflets in a forward direction, and the anchors (16) are configured so that, subsequent to implantation, the anchors (16) resist extraction from the annulus or the leaflets in a backwards direction, the anchors (16) being arranged with respect to the loop of material (160) so that, when the loop of material (160) is deployed, the anchors (16) are distributed about the loop of material (160) with the front ends (46) of the anchors (16) facing the annulus or the leaflets, and (c) a plurality of linking members (150) that are affixed to the loop of material (160), at least a portion of each of the linking members (150) passing through the slot (17) in a respective one of the anchors (16), and each of the linking members (150) being configured to slide with respect to the slot (17) in the respective anchor (16) in the front-to-back direction； and means for implanting the anchors (16) into the annulus or the leaflets so that the tissue engaging member (12) becomes affixed to the annulus or the leaflets.
