| abstract |
A plastic stent for a prosthetic trileaflet heart valve consisting of a cylindrical body section terminating at one end in three apical, commissure posts, and at the other end, in an outward-extending flange. The flange is provided with an interrupted channel encircling the base of the cylindrical section. An optional metal ring may be mounted adjacent the flange and spaced from the base of the cylindrical section. A cloth cover is secured to the stent by stitching directly through the flange in the area of reduced thickness resulting from the interrupted channel. |