Edwards Lifesciences Corporation
MODIFIED PROSTHETIC HEART VALVE STENT

Abstract:

A prosthetic heart valve having an expandable stent modified to reduce the impact on the adjacent conduction system of the heart. A plurality of flexible leaflets arranged to close together along a flow axis through the valve prevent blood flow in one direction, and a support frame surrounds and supports the leaflets. The stent is defined by a plurality of connected struts arranged around a circumference. A pattern of the struts is consistent around the circumference except in a modified region on one side so that when converted to the expanded configuration the stent on the one side expands radially outward a smaller distance and/or has larger cells defined between the struts than around a remainder of the circumference. The stent may be connected to a non-collapsible valve member or the entire valve may be expandable. The valve may be for implant at the aortic annulus and the modified region may be centered at a commissure post of the support frame.