Patent ID: 8784481

Claim:
A prosthetic heart valve comprising: an annular frame structure that is adapted for (1) delivery into a patient's native heart valve annulus in a circumferentially collapsed condition, and (2) circumferential re-expansion when in the annulus, the frame structure having a first end including an annulus portion and a second end; a flexible leaflet structure disposed in the frame structure; and a leaflet restraining structure for pushing radially outwardly on a patient's native heart valve leaflets when the frame structure is re-expanded, the leaflet restraining structure having a first end connected at a junction to the annulus portion of the frame structure and a free end disposed between the junction and the second end of the frame structure, the leaftlet restraining structure including a plurality of fingers that are spaced from one another in a direction that is circumferential around the annulus portion, each of the fingers being cantilevered from the annulus portion.