| abstract |
A stented valve having a stent structure including a generally tubular body portion with a first end and a second end, the region adjacent to the first end having a first stiffness A region adjacent to the second end has a second stiffness, and a region located between the regions of the first and second ends is adjacent to the first and second ends. A stented valve having a stiffness that is less than the stiffness of the stent structure, wherein the stent structure is configured to conform to a patient's anatomical region where the central region is curved. The stented valve further includes a valve structure that is mounted within the generally tubular portion. |