Edwards Lifesciences Corporation
PROSTHETIC HEART VALVE

Abstract:

A prosthetic valve assembly includes a radially expandable and compressible annular frame. The frame includes a plurality of interconnected struts, which include a plurality of inner struts and a plurality of outer struts. The inner struts overlap adjacent outer struts at a plurality of pivot joints. Radial expansion or compression of the annular frame causes the inner struts to pivot relative to the outer struts at the pivot joints. The assembly also includes a valvular structure having a plurality of leaflets, each leaflet having a cusp edge portion. The assembly further includes one or more leaflet-supporting cords, each having a plurality of anchoring portions and a plurality of suspended portions, each suspended portion extending between two adjacent anchoring portions. The anchoring portions are affixed to respective anchoring features of the frame adjacent the pivot joints. The cusp edge portions of the leaflets are connected to the suspended portions.