Edwards Lifesciences Corporation
PROSTHETIC HEART VALVE WITH SUTURE LOOP PREVENTING MEMBER

Abstract:

A prosthetic heart valve system includes a prosthetic heart valve having an inflow side, and an outflow side. The heart valve further includes a base at the inflow side, a plurality of commissure posts and valve leaflets secured to the commissure posts to permit flow through the heart valve. An anti-loop member has a first portion on the inflow side of the heart valve and a second portion on the outflow side of the heart valve. The second portion of the anti-loop member is arranged along each commissure post at the tip of each commissure post, and arranged along at least one commissure post twice to form a loop around all of the commissure posts. The anti-loop member is made of a material sufficiently flexible to be removed from the commissure posts without damaging the heart valve yet rigid enough to retain its shape when coming in contact with sutures.