Patent ID: 8092522

Claim:
An implantable valve prosthesis comprising: a frame having a proximal frame end and a distal frame end, the frame defining a lumen extending between the proximal frame end and the distal frame end along a longitudinal axis, and a first valve leaflet positioned within the lumen and having a distal edge attached to the frame and a proximal edge free of the frame, wherein the first valve leaflet comprises at least one material having a first and a second slit through the leaflet, each slit of the first and second slits comprising an opening in the first valve leaflet and extending distally along the leaflet from the proximal edge to a slit end position proximal of the distal edge, the first and second slits cooperatively defining a free portion of the first valve leaflet between the first and second slits and bounded by the proximal edge, the first and second slits, and an interface joining the distal slit end points, wherein the first valve leaflet is movable between a first position that allows fluid flow in a first, antegrade, direction and a second position that restricts flow in a second, retrograde direction.