FLEXIBLE COMMISSURE STRUCTURE FOR ATTACHING VALVE BIOPROSTHESIS

摘要

A cylindrical anchoring structure for supporting a tissue heart valve is disclosed. The cylindrical anchoring structure defines a central longitudinal axis and includes an inflow ring having at least one sinusoidal-shaped wire with a plurality of peaks and troughs and an outflow ring having at least one sinusoidal-shaped wire with a plurality of peaks and troughs. A flexible commissure post having a longitudinal axis connects the inflow ring and the outflow ring. The flexible commissure post has a bending flexibility along a plane defined by a surface containing all straight lines connecting any point on the central longitudinal axis of the cylindrical anchoring structure and any point on the longitudinal axis of the flexible commissure post.