| abstract |
A replacement heart valve assembly (10) includes an intravascular radiallynexpandable stent (14) and a biological valve (18) which is secured to the stent. Thenstent/valve assembly is positioned onto the inflatable portion (16) of a balloon catheter (20)nand percutaneously implanted into a body lumen. The stent is made from a highlynmalleable material which allows localized plastic deformation and further allowsnsubsequent radial reexpansion of the stent/valve assembly as needed. The biologicalnvalve is, for example, a harvested bovine jugular valve which can be adapted for usenas a replacement for a malfunctioning human pulmonary valve. |