Patent attributes
A prosthetic apparatus includes a main body having a lumen and configured for placement within a native annulus of a native valve complex. The main body is radially compressible to a radially compressed state for delivery into the heart and self-expandable from the compressed state to a radially expanded state. The apparatus also includes at least one arm coupled to and disposed outside of the main body. The arm being coupled to the main body such that when the main body is compressed to the compressed state, a leaflet-receiving space between the arm and an outer surface of the main body increases to receive a native valve leaflet therebetween, and when the main body expands to the expanded state in the absence of any radial inward forces on the main body or the arm, the space decreases to capture the leaflet between the outer surface of the main body and the arm.
