Patent ID: 8998981
Filing Date: 2015-04-07
Classification: A61B,A61F

Abstract:
1. Apparatus comprising a valve prosthesis, which comprises: a prosthetic heart valve; and three or more commissural posts each formed of a material, to which the prosthetic heart valve is coupled, which posts are arranged circumferentially around a central longitudinal axis of the valve prosthesis, and are configured to assume a collapsed position prior to implantation of the prosthesis, and an expanded position upon the implantation of the prosthesis, wherein the three or more commissural posts includes a first commissural post, the first commissural post being provided with a radiographic identifier that is shaped to be reflection-asymmetric about an axis of the first commissural post that is generally parallel with the central longitudinal axis when the three or more commissural posts assume the collapsed position, and further wherein the first commissural post is shaped to define an opening through a thickness of the material of the first commissural post such that the opening does not include the material of the first commissural post, the opening defining an entirety of the radiographic identifier such that the radiographic identifier is bounded by the material of the first commissural post and is void of the material of the first commissural post, the opening having a reflection-asymmetric shape about the axis of the first commissural post, and even further wherein upon final assembly of the apparatus, a radiopacity of the apparatus at the radiographic identifier is less than a radiopacity of the material of the first commissural post.