Patent ID: 9504564
Filing Date: 2016-11-29
CPC Classification: A61F,Y10S

Claim Text:
1. A valve prosthesis comprising: a self-expanding multi-level frame having a contracted delivery configuration and an expanded deployed configuration, and a cell pattern that defines contours, wherein the cell pattern includes a plurality of cells having sizes that vary along the length of the prosthesis, the cell pattern defined by struts; and a valve body affixed to the multi-level frame, the valve body comprising a plurality of leaflets affixed to a skirt at joints, wherein the valve body has a center of coaptation, wherein adjoining leaflets form commissures, wherein the commissures are affixed to the multi-level frame at a location distal of the center of coaptation, and wherein the commissures include flaps that span an entire area of at least one cell of the cell pattern; wherein the joints include curved portions between a curved base of each leaflet and a scalloped upper edge of the skirt, wherein the curved portions curve longitudinally towards and away from a proximal end of the multi-level frame, wherein the curved portions are aligned with and directly affixed to a curved contour of the multi-level frame defined by the struts of the cells of the multi-level frame so that most of the length of the joints is directly supported by the frame to evenly distribute forces through the valve body to the multi-level frame.