Patent ID: 8257434

Claim:
A valve for controlling fluid flow in a lumen having an annulus, the valve comprising: a sewing ring having an inner portion and an outer portion, wherein the sewing ring is substantially planar in an unstressed position, wherein, in the unstressed position, the outer portion of the sewing ring defines an operative circumference of the sewing ring, wherein the diameter of the sewing ring in the unstressed position is larger than the diameter of the annulus, and wherein the outer portion of the sewing ring is configured for attachment to the annulus in a biased position; and a plurality of leaflets securely attached to the inner portion of the sewing ring, wherein, when the sewing ring is in the unstressed position, the plurality of leaflets are substantially co-planar with the sewing ring, wherein, upon attachment of the sewing ring to the annulus in the biased position, the sewing ring is substantially non-planar, the plurality of leaflets are substantially non-planar and at least a portion of at least one leaflet of the plurality of leaflets is superposed relative to at least a portion at least one of the adjacent leaflets of the plurality of leaflets, wherein a distal end of each leaflet extends radially inwardly relative to the inner portion of the sewing ring generally toward a center point on the valve, and wherein at least a portion of the leaflets of the plurality of leaflets comprises extracellular matrix material.