Patent ID: 7351256

Claim:
A prosthetic valve comprising: a radially expandable structural frame including a proximal anchor and a distal anchor, the proximal and distal anchors being formed from a lattice of interconnected elements, and having a substantially cylindrical configurations with first and second open ends and a longitudinal axis extending there between; one or more connecting members, the one or more connecting members having a first and a second end, the first end of each connecting member being attached to the proximal anchor and the second end of each connecting member being attached to the distal anchor; and a tubular biocompatible membrane assembly attached to the abluminal surface of the proximal anchor and extending distally along the one or more connecting members, the biocompatible membrane assembly having proximal and distal ends, wherein the distal end of the biocompatible membrane assembly is engaged with an abluminal surface of the one or more connecting members whereupon terminating with supple valve flaps biased towards an open position.