Patent ID: 7582110

Claim:
A medical device for implantation in a body vessel, the medical device comprising: a tubular, implantable frame defining a lumen about a longitudinal axis and having a first frame member including a plurality of struts and bends interconnecting the struts, the first frame member comprising a non-bioabsorbable material, and a second frame member including a plurality of struts and bends interconnecting the struts, the second frame member configured to increase in compliance after implantation of said medical device, the second frame member attached to the first frame member at least at two attachment points and disposed radially outward such that the second frame is to contact said body vessel, the implantable frame being radially movable between an expanded configuration and a compressed configuration, the implantable frame having a first compliance in a first radial direction at implantation and a second compliance in the first radial direction after passage of a predetermined period of time after implantation; and a valve leaflet comprising a remodelable material, the valve leaflet being attached to the frame between the two attachment points, wherein at the two attachment points a portion of the valve leaflet is interposed between the first and second frame members to protect the valve leaflet from contacting the body vessel, wherein the implantable frame having the first compliance maintains a mechanical load on the valve leaflet to promote remodeling for the predetermined period of time.