| 摘要 |
A frame (13) for a prosthetic heart valve (11) comprises:… a wire formed into an annular configuration and having a plurality of circumferentially spaced apical sections (19, 21, 23) joined by curved, preferably elliptical, sections (25, 27, 29). Each of said apical sections (19, 21, 23) including a reverse bend (31) and first and second straight segments (33) joining the opposite ends of the reverse bend (31) of such apical section (19, 21, 23) to the adjacent curved section (26, 27, 29), respectively. The wire has opposite ends (35, 37) lying on one of said straight segments (33) and means (39), for example, a cylindrical sleeve join said opposite ends (35, 37) of said wire together in said one straight segment (33) with the two ends axially aligned. |
