Patent ID: 8663312

Claim:
A method of preventing leakage between a prosthetic valve and a vessel wall comprising: deploying a self-expanding mesh cuff having at least two-ply in the vessel prior to implanting the prosthetic valve, said mesh cuff including a center body portion and two end portions on either side of the center body portion; allowing the end portions to expand and form a seal against the vessel wall while the center body portion of said cuff forms inwardly-curving sidewalls; implanting the prosthetic valve to said inwardly-curving sidewalls after the step of allowing the end portions to expand; wherein at least one of said end portions mushrooms when expanded such that a gap is created between the plies of the end portions, thereby creating a funnel for guiding a delivery catheter into a center of a lumen in said cuff, and allowing an outer ply to conform against native tissue while an inner ply creates said funnel; and wherein expanding said lumen of said cuff causes at least one of said end portions to fold.