Patent ID: 6454799
Filing Date: 2002-09-24
Classification: A61F,Y10S

Abstract:
A prosthetic heart valve, comprising:a support stent including a tubular base along an inflow end and a plurality of generally axially-extending commissure posts disposed evenly around the tubular base on an outflow end thereof, each commissure post having an axial slot, wherein the base is plastically-expandable from a first size adapted for minimally invasive delivery, to a second, functional size that fits within a heart valve annulus; and a flexible tubular member having a prosthetic section attached to the commissure posts so as to define a plurality of prosthetic valve leaflets between the posts, and a fabric section connected to the base, and wherein the tubular member is primarily located within the posts except for a plurality of loops that extend outward through each slot on each post, and further including a plurality of inserts sized lager than the slots, each of which insert is captured within a loop extending outward through each slot to retain the loop through the slot.