Patent ID: 8021421

Claim:
A heart valve device for connection to a first mass comprising: a gasket body comprising an annular wall defining a gasket radius around a longitudinal axis central to the gasket body, the wall defining first and second edges, the gasket body further comprising a sewing ring including a skirt extending radially outwardly from the first edge and a complementary attachment device in the sewing ring, and an elongate attachment device comprising one or more digitations, detents, or pawls located at an intermediate location between opposite ends of the elongate attachment device, the elongate attachment device having sufficient length such that the gasket body can be parachuted down the elongate attachment device to an implantation site, wherein the complementary attachment device comprises an inner attachment radius and an outer attachment radius, wherein the gasket radius, the inner attachment radius and the outer attachment radius are measured from the longitudinal axis, and wherein the outer attachment radius is greater than the gasket radius, and wherein the complementary attachment device comprises a receptacle, the receptacle comprising a ratchet tooth for self-ratchetedly engaging the one or more digitations, detents, or pawls on the elongate attachment device received therethrough.