Patent attributes
A prosthetic heart valve may include a stent body with a plurality of cells arranged in circumferential rows and a cuff attached to the stent. A leaflet attachment panel may be attached to and span a portion of one of the cells. A prosthetic valve element, such as a leaflet having a belly, may be mounted to the leaflet attachment panel. The leaflet attachment panel may not be integral with the stent body. A reduced overlap area may be defined between a proximal end of the stent body and a proximalmost point of attachment of the leaflet belly to the cuff. The reduced overlap area may have a size dependent upon the circumferential row of cells the leaflet attachment panel is attached to and a position of the portion of the leaflet attachment panel to which the leaflet is mounted. Alternately, the leaflet may be attached directly to the stent.
