Patent ID: 8906083

Claim:
A percutaneously implantable vascular stent valve device, comprising: a percutaneously implantable frame having a longitudinal axis and an inner lumen; a valve connected to the frame and comprising two or more flexible leaflets located at least partially within the frame, the two or more leaflets defining a valve orifice between upper portions of the leaflets which extend across the lumen of the stent and have inner segments that are moveable into and out of contact with one another to close and open the valve orifice, respectively; and wherein said upper portions of adjacent leaflets of the two or more leaflets have respective peripheral segments that are positioned inside the frame and that are sewn together by a linear series of suture stitches to create sewn-closed leaflet material segments inside the frame and between an inner surface of the frame and said inner segments, said sewn-closed leaflet material segments extending transverse to said longitudinal axis and said sewn-closed leaflet material segments occurring immediately adjacent to and defining an outer periphery of the valve orifice, with said sewn-closed leaflet material segments contributing to a reinforced connection of the leaflets to the frame.