Patent ID: 7758640

Claim:
A cardiovascular valve assembly having a first end and a second end, said valve assembly comprising: a base member comprised of a plurality of arcuate base sections and a plurality of mounting sections, each arcuate base section having a pair of distal ends that are disposed closer to the first end of the valve assembly than the remainder of the arcuate base section, wherein the distal ends of adjacent arcuate base sections join a common mounting section; and a valve member detachably mountable to the base member, said valve member including: a plurality of mounting assemblies respectively engageable with the plurality of mounting sections in an interlocking manner such that the valve member can be removed and replaced, and a plurality of arcuate portions for supporting a plurality of leaflets, each arcuate portion having a pair of distal ends, wherein respective mounting assemblies are located at distal ends of adjacent arcuate portions, wherein said plurality of arcuate portions of said valve member are respectively seated on, and extend generally parallel to, said plurality of arcuate base sections to form a seal therebetween when said plurality of mounting sections are engaged with said plurality of mounting assemblies in an interlocking manner.