Patent ID: 7473275
Filing Date: 2009-01-06
Classification: A61F

Abstract:
1. A stress-absorbing flexible support frame for a prosthetic heart valve, comprising: a support frame formed by an elongated wire-like element generally describing a tube around an axis and having a plurality of arcuate cusp regions on an inflow end alternating with the same number of commissures terminating in tips on an outflow end, the cusp and commissures being formed as a single element, the arcuate cusp regions being convex toward the inflow end and the commissure tips being generally convex toward the outflow end, wherein each cusp terminates on opposite ends at commissure regions extending from the cusp regions in the outflow direction and two adjacent commissure regions extending from adjacent cusp regions converge toward each of the commissure tips, and wherein each commissure tip comprises a continuous complex curve including a pair of arcuate outer flexure portions projecting in the outflow direction connected by an oppositely-curved inner bridge portion which spans between the flexure portions.