ARTIFICIAL VALVE PROSTHESES WITH A FREE LEAFLET PORTION

摘要

One embodiment of the present invention provides an implantable valve prosthesis (100). The valve prosthesis (100) includes a frame (102) defining a lumen extending between a proximal frame end (A) and a distal frame end along a longitudinal axis (y-y' ) / and a first' valve leaflet (104) positioned within the. lumen and having a distal edge (110) attached to the frame (102) and a proximal edge (105) free of the frame (102). The first valve leaflet (104) comprises a first (108) and a second (109) slit extend distally from the proximal edge (106) and defining a free portion (112) of the first valve leaflet (104) between the first (108) and second (109) slits. The first valve leaflet (104) is movable between a first position that allows fluid flow in a first, antegrade, direction and a second position that restricts flow in a second, retrograde direction.