A valve repair instrument and method of repair for the mitral valve of the heart is disclosed. The valve repair instrument includes an elongated body having two ends. One of the ends being configured to maintain a muscle portion of a valve repair device in an expanded position for attachment to the papillary muscle, the other end being configured to maintain a leaflet portion of a valve repair device in an expanded position for attachment to a valve leaflet. The valve repair device is attached to the diseased valve by suturing the leaflet portion to the affected leaflet and suturing the muscle portion to the affected muscle.
