Heart valve prosthesis

Abstract

A heart valve prosthesis comprising: a support structure comprising a framework deformable between an expanded state and a compressed state and vice versa; and a flow-control structure, supported by the support structure, for permitting blood flow in a first direction, and for restricting blood flow in a direction opposite to the first direction. At least one end of the support structure comprises a plurality of apexes of the framework. The support structure is collapsible into the compressed state by pulling on the apexes, to enable it to be drawn into a sheath having an inner radial dimension smaller than the radial dimension of the support structure in the expanded state.