Patent ID: 7247167

Claim:
A heart valve prosthesis comprising: a valve member having an inflow end, an outflow end, and a generally cylindrical sidewall portion extending between the inflow end and the outflow end, the valve member including at least one leaflet moveable relative to the sidewall portion to provide for substantially unidirectional flow of fluid through the valve member; a support of a substantially flexible material positioned around the sidewall portion, wherein the support is positioned around the sidewall portion of the valve member intermediate the inflow end and the outflow end of the valve member, such that an inflow end of the support is spaced apart from the inflow end of the valve member and an outflow end of the support is spaced apart from the outflow end of the valve member; a strip of pliant material around valve member intermediate the inflow end and the outflow end of the valve member in a generally overlying relationship with the support; a covering over a radially outer exposed surface of at least the strip; and wherein the outflow end of the sidewall portion of the valve member includes alternating peaks and sinuses, the outflow end of the support includes alternating peaks and sinuses configured to follow the contour of the sinuses of the valve member.