Patent ID: 6350282
Filing Date: 2002-02-26
Classification: A61F

Abstract:
A supported bioprosthetic heart valve having an inflow and and outflow side, the heart valve comprising:a) a stent having an annular frame defined by a support rail, the support rail having an inflow and an outflow side corresponding to the inflow and outflow sides of the heart valve, the annular frame defining relatively exterior and interior directions; b) a biological valve member defined by a tubular wall and a plurality of leaflets, the plurality of leaflets being attached to the tubular wall and axially converging along commisures of the plurality of leaflets, the biological valve member extending i) from the outflow side of the heart valve toward the outflow side of the heart valve and ending at the inflow side of the support rail; and ii) not extending around the support rail; and c) a sleeve fitted around and tangentially exterior to the annular frame, the sleeve having an inflow end and an outflow end, the outflow end being folded interiorly over the support rail and secured to the support rail along the entire annular perimeter of the support rail such that a recess is formed along the entire annular perimeter of the support rail directly underneath the support rail, the sleeve also secured to the biological valve member such that an outflow end of the tubular wall of the biological valve member is secured to the sleeve within the recess directly underneath the entire annular perimeter of the support rail and whereby the overall thickness of the valve wall at the tubular wall of the biological valve member includes the thickness of the biological valve member and the sleeve and does not include the thickness of the support rail.