Patent ID: 7846204

Claim:
A prosthetic valve assembly for replacing a stenotic native aortic valve in a patient, comprising: a metallic frame having an inlet end, an outlet end and an internal surface, the metallic frame having a concave profile and constructed with sufficient radial strength for resisting the recoil forces of the stenotic native aortic valve; a flexible valvular structure having open and closed positions, the valvular structure sewn directly to the frame along a coupling region between the inlet and outlet ends of the frame, the valvular structure adapted for permitting blood to flow in one direction, the valvular structure formed of pericardial tissue and positioned entirely between the inlet and outlet ends of the frame when in the closed position; and an internal cover having an inlet end and an outlet end, the internal cover sewn to the frame along the internal surface and contacting the internal surface only between the inlet end of the frame and the valvular structure for preventing blood from flowing laterally through gaps in the frame between the inlet end of the frame and the valvular structure while permitting blood to flow laterally through gaps in the frame between the valvular structure and the outlet end of the frame, the internal cover comprising pericardial tissue and disposed only along the internal surface of the frame, the inlet end of the internal cover sewn to the inlet end of the frame, the outlet end of the internal cover sewn to the valvular structure adjacent the coupling region between the inlet and outlet ends of the frame; wherein the frame is collapsible for advancing the prosthetic valve assembly through a patient's vasculature using a catheterization technique and wherein the frame is expandable for maintaining the native aortic valve in an open state and supporting the valvular structure.