Patent ID: 8449607

Claim:
A valve for controlling fluid flow in a lumen having an annulus, the valve and the annulus each having a circumference, the valve comprising: a body having an outer edge portion; and a plurality of leaflets disposed on the outer edge portion of the valve, wherein the valve is substantially planar in an unstressed position, wherein the plurality of leaflets are substantially planar in the unstressed position, wherein an operative diameter of the valve in the unstressed position is configured to be larger than the diameter of the annulus, and wherein the outer edge portion of the body of the valve is configured for attachment to the annulus in a biased position, wherein, upon attachment of the valve to the annulus in the biased position, the outer edge portion of the body of the valve is substantially non-planar, the plurality of leaflets are substantially non-planar, and at least a portion of at least one leaflet of the plurality of leaflets is superposed relative to at least a portion of at least one of the adjacent leaflets of the plurality of leaflets, and wherein, in the biased position, a distal end of each leaflet of the plurality of leaflets extends radially inwardly generally toward a center point in the valve, and wherein at least a portion of each leaflet of the plurality of leaflets comprises extracellular matrix material.