Patent ID: 7597710

Claim:
A method of manufacturing an implantable valve prosthesis for a tubular bodily passage, comprising the steps of: providing a flexible biomaterial and a support frame including a plurality of bends and interconnected sides to define a closed circumference with an aperture therethrough, the support frame includes a first configuration for intravascular delivery into said bodily passage and a second configuration for implantation therein, the plurality of bends in the first configuration comprising at least a first pair of opposite bends and a second pair of opposite bends; forming a slit in the flexible biomaterial; placing the flexible biomaterial against the support frame such that an overhang portion thereof extends beyond the closed circumference; orienting said slit between one of the first and second pair of opposite bends; folding the overhang portion of the flexible biomaterial over the sides, generally enclosing the sides within the folded overhang portion; welding a portion of the folded overhang portion to itself by a series of heat welds along the sides and bends to secure the folded overhang portion of the flexible biomaterial to the sides enclosed therein; and folding the support frame to the second configuration about a diagonal axis across the aperture of the support frame by bringing the first pair of opposite bends in closer proximity to form a first end of said implantable prosthesis and the second pair of opposite bends in closer proximity to form a second end of said implantable valve prosthesis.