Patent ID: 7947074

Claim:
An implantable prosthetic valve for regulating fluid flow through a body vessel, comprising: an anchoring member having exterior and interior surfaces, the exterior surface of the anchoring member capable of contacting an inner wall of the body vessel, the interior surface of the anchoring member defining an opening for fluid flow in an antegrade and a retrograde direction; at least one leaflet having a first edge attached to the anchoring member and a second edge being moveable between a first position and a second position, the first position substantially permits fluid flow in the antegrade direction and the second position substantially prevents the fluid flow in the retrograde direction; and a restraining member contacting the second edge of the at least one leaflet, the anchoring member, and/or vessel wall, the restraining member capable of temporarily preventing substantial movement of the at least one leaflet between the first position and the second position so as to allow fluid flow in the antegrade and retrograde directions; wherein the restraining member is sized to be left within the blood vessel after implantation of the valve and closure of an implantation site to thereby prevent substantial movement of the at least one leaflet for a sufficient length of time to allow endothelial tissue overgrowth of one or both of the at least one leaflet and the anchoring member.