| abstract |
A radially expandable artificial valve prosthesis for regulating fluid flow through a body vessel is provided. The prosthesis includes a radially expandable ring frame, at least one valve leaflet attached to the ring frame forming a valve pocket and a support structure attached to the ring frame and adapted to position the ring frame within the bodily passage. The height of the valve pocket is less than the maximum cross sectional dimension of the lumen defined by the expanded ring frame. The valve leaflet is allows fluid flow in a first, antegrade, direction and restricts flow in a second, retrograde direction. |