Patent ID: 9375310
Filing Date: 2016-06-28
CPC Classification: A61F

Claim Text:
1. A prosthetic heart valve adapted for post-implant expansion and having an inflow end and an outflow end, comprising: an inner structural support stent including an annular composite band having upstanding commissure posts extending in the outflow direction alternating with arcuate inflow cusps, wherein the support stent comprises a radially thin outer band located concentrically around and attached to a radially thin inner band that defines the commissure posts, the stent defining an implant circumference that is non-compressible in normal physiological use and has a first diameter, and wherein the outer band has a single expandable segment around its periphery that permits expansion of the support stent from the first diameter to a second diameter larger than the first diameter upon application of an outward dilatory force from within the support stent larger than forces associated with normal physiological use, the single expandable segment being formed by overlapping free ends of the outer band located at one of the cusps of the stent, the free ends overlapping with one outside the other and wherein a flexible sleeve closely surrounds the overlapped free ends to maintain alignment thereof and provides an amount of friction to resist expansion thereof, the free ends otherwise being free to expand from the first diameter, and wherein the inner band is configured to expand below each of the commissure posts when the outer band expands; and a plurality of flexible leaflets supported by the stent and configured to ensure one-way blood flow therethrough.