Patent ID: 8012198

Claim:
A venous valve, comprising: a frame having a first leaflet connection region and a second leaflet connection region, where the frame includes an outer surface and an inner surface opposite the outer surface, and a radial support member that couples the first leaflet connection region and the second leaflet connection region; and a tubular cover over at least one of the outer surface and the inner surface of the frame, the tubular cover connected to at least the first leaflet connection region and the second leaflet connection region to provide a first leaflet and a second leaflet having surfaces defining a reversibly sealable opening for unidirectional flow of a liquid through the valve, where a lip of the reversibly sealing opening is coupled to the first leaflet connection region and the second leaflet connection region, where in an open position the tubular cover has a first circular circumference at a first end of the frame and a second circular circumference smaller than the first circular circumference at the lip of the reversibly sealing opening and the lip maintains essentially the same relative position around the circumference of the valve leaflets, where the first and second circular circumferences are perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the frame and the unidirectional flow of the liquid passes through the first and second circular circumferences, where in an open position the lip is between the first end of the frame and the radial support member and where the second circular circumference is smaller than an inner circumference of the radial support member.