CARDIAC VALVE SUPPORT DEVICES HAVING IMPROVED COMPATIBILITY WITH TRANSCATHETER PROSTHETIC VALVES

摘要

The present invention is primarily directed to a valve support device suitable for endovascular and/or transapical implantation at or near to a cardiac valve annulus, comprising one or more support rings and one or more height-increasing elements attached to the inner circumference of said support rings. Preferred embodiments of height-increasing elements for use in the present invention include wire springs of various types, fabric sleeves and tab-like elements.