Patent ID: 7682390

Claim:
A heart valve prosthesis assembly having a longitudinal axis and comprising an implantable valve and a valve support for supportably receiving the implantable valve, the implantable valve and the valve support being configured to contract for delivery and deployment and expand for implantation, the valve support comprising: a portion having an inner surface and an outer surface, said portion comprising a radially expandable pliable material, the radially expandable pliable material being slightly stretchable in the circumferential direction; a plurality of radially positioned anchoring prongs configured to anchor the heart valve prosthesis assembly to anatomy of the implantation site, the plurality of radially positioned anchoring prongs being configured to be inserted into the anatomy of the implantation site upon deployment of the heart valve prosthesis assembly; and a plurality of elongated reinforcing elements at least partially attached to the portion, the plurality of elongated reinforcing elements arranged on the outer surface of the portion, wherein each one of the plurality of elongated reinforcing elements are attached to the portion independently of one another.