Patent ID: 7955377

Claim:
A frame radially moveable about a longitudinal axis between an expanded configuration and a compressed configuration suitable for prosthetic implantable valves comprising: a first anchoring member and a second anchoring member together defining a fluid flow path about the longitudinal axis, the second anchoring member being longitudinally spaced from the first anchoring member; a support member being curved in the shape of a semiellipse, the support member having a first end, a second end, and a middle region between the first and second ends and including a vertex, where the support member is positioned between the first and second anchoring members and in the expanded configuration extends diagonally at an angle between about 15 degrees and about 60 degrees from the longitudinal axis, and a first hinged attachment connecting the vertex of the support member to the first anchoring member, and a second hinged attachment connecting one of the first end and the second end to the second anchoring member.