Patent attributes
A prosthetic device for a heart valve, comprising a valve portion with prosthetic leaflets capable of reproducing the function of the valve leaflets of a native heart valve, selectively expandable from a collapsed configuration for implantation to a working expanded configuration. The prosthetic device also comprises a containment portion which surrounds the valve portion to contain its expansion in the working expanded configuration. The prosthetic device also comprises a connecting portion which stably connects the valve portion to the containment portion by means of connecting elements. The invention allows for both the use of minimally invasive surgical implantation procedures and implantation procedures based completely on transcatheteral techniques.