| 主权项 |
1. A valve prosthesis comprising:
a. a self-expanding frame comprising struts and nodes which define a plurality of cells, the frame being generally cylindrical with a longitudinal axis and an inflow end; b. a valve body supported by the frame and comprising: i. a plurality of leaflets sewn to a skirt to form joints between each leaflet and the skirt, in which each joint between each leaflet and the skirt is curved to define upper and lower portions of each joint as a whole, in which adjacent joints come together in the upper portion, and an apex of a curve lies in the lower portion, ii. adjoining leaflets sewn together to form commissures which are sewn to the frame downstream of the inflow end, and iii. a bottom edge sewn to the inflow end of the frame, and iv. at least one side seam, each of which side seams extends only between a lower portion of a joint and the bottom edge. |
