| abstract |
A heart valve prosthesis can be formed with a harvested tissue heart valve and a sewing rim that extends outwardly from the annulus of the harvested heart valve for easier attachment of the prosthesis. The heart valve prosthesis can further include a belt that extends along the annulus to provide further support to the valve annulus. A single piece of pericardial tissue can be used to form the sewing rim, belt and a collar that envelopes the edge of the annulus. The harvested heart valve prosthesis can have the diameter of its annulus adjusted using pledgeted suture prior to the application of additional support structures such as the belt, sewing rim and collar. |