Patent ID: 7175656

Claim:
An expansible prosthetic heart valve comprising: an implantable structure comprising a tubular framework which is expansible from a first reduced diameter to a second enlarged diameter and having a flow path therethrough, the tubular framework having: a strength sufficient to maintain luminal patency when the framework is expanded within a valve of the heart; and a plurality of radial protrusions, the protrusions extending radially about the tubular framework so as to anchor the tubular framework within the valve of the heart when the tubular framework is expanded therein; a flexible membrane positionable in the flow path for permitting flow in a first direction and substantially resisting flow in a second direction; and a membrane support positionable in the flow path and affixed to the implantable structure, wherein the membrane support comprises at least one rib member extending across the flow path, wherein the membrane support is fixed relative to the flexible membrane so that the flexible membrane flexes away from the membrane support including the at least one rib member during opening of the flow path in the first direction, wherein the flexible membrane is attached to a portion of the membrane support.