Patent ID: 7951189

Claim:
A method, comprising: forming a venous valve frame having a structural member that defines an elongate base portion and a bulbous portion; the elongate base portion having a first end, a second end, and an outer surface concentrically arranged relative a longitudinal axis, where the outer surface provides at least two points of a perimeter of a first elliptical plane orthogonal to and passing through the longitudinal axis, and where the structural member at each of the first end and the second end includes a first curve and a second curve opposite the first curve with the first curve and the second curve of the first end positioned radially orthogonal to the first curve and the second curve of the second end of the base portion, and the bulbous portion extending between the first end and the second end of the elongate base portion to define a bulbous portion of the venous valve frame, where the outer surface of the elongate base portion and a second structural member provide at least four points of a perimeter of a plane orthogonal to the longitudinal axis, where the plane has an area that is greater than the area of the first elliptical plane; positioning a free edge of the valve leaflets adjacent the bulbous portion to form a sinus pocket between the bulbous portion in the venous valve frame and the valve leaflets; and coupling valve leaflets to the venous valve frame.