US Patent 8403983 Heart valve

A replacement heart valve can comprise a valve body and an elongate frame. The valve body can define a plurality of leaflets adapted to move between an open state and a coapted state. The elongate frame can be configured to move between a radially compacted state and a radially expanded state, the frame comprising a plurality of struts. Stitches attach the valve body to the plurality of struts. At least one of the stitches can be a loose stitch configured to freely slide over the corresponding strut when the frame is moved between the radially compacted and radially expanded states.