US Patent 7648528 valve prosthesis

A valve prosthesis includes a flexible plug and an annular bearing reinforcement which is embodied such that it is radially rigid and surgically implantable in the area of a heart valve. The valve prosthesis is provided with an interchangeable prosthetic valve, is independent of the bearing reinforcement, endoluminally placeable and includes a tubular support which is radially deformable between a folded setting position and an unfolded position for implanting into a bearing structure and the flexible plug connected to a tubular support. The bearing reinforcement forms an annular support devoid of any plug capable of univocally limiting a blood flow circulation.