Leaflet attachment for function in various shapes and sizes

Abstract

A prosthetic heart valve includes a collapsible and expandable stent and a plurality of commissure features disposed on the stent. A collapsible and expandable valve assembly includes a plurality of leaflets connected to the plurality of commissure features, each commissure feature including a body having a proximal end and a distal end. A plurality of eyelets is arranged in rows and columns on the body for distributing load from the plurality of leaflets.

1 . (canceled) 
     
     
         2 . A prosthetic heart valve, comprising:
 a collapsible and expandable stent having an inflow end and an outflow end, the stent including a plurality of commissure attachment features and a plurality of struts defining a plurality of cells, and the stent extending in a length direction from the inflow end to the outflow end; and   a collapsible and expandable valve assembly including a plurality of leaflets connected to the plurality of commissure attachment features;   wherein each leaflet includes a first edge operably coupled to the stent, a second free edge, a first tab connecting a first end of the first edge to a first end of the second free edge, and a second tab connecting a second end of the first edge to a second end of the second free edge, each of the first and second tabs being folded over a reinforcement material about a fold line in the tab.   
     
     
         3 . The prosthetic heart valve of  claim 2 , wherein the reinforcement material is fabric or a polymer sheet material. 
     
     
         4 . The prosthetic heart valve of  claim 2 , wherein the reinforcement material is tissue. 
     
     
         5 . The prosthetic heart valve of  claim 2 , wherein each tab is attached to the corresponding reinforcement material by at least one suture. 
     
     
         6 . The prosthetic heart valve of  claim 2 , wherein each tab is attached to a corresponding commissure attachment feature. 
     
     
         7 . A prosthetic heart valve, comprising:
 a collapsible and expandable stent having an inflow end and an outflow end, the stent including a plurality of commissure attachment features and a plurality of struts defining a plurality of cells, and the stent extending in a length direction from the inflow end to the outflow end; and   a collapsible and expandable valve assembly including a plurality of leaflets connected to the plurality of commissure attachment features;   wherein each leaflet includes a first edge operably coupled to the stent, a second free edge, a first tab connecting a first end of the first edge to a first end of the second free edge, the first tab being rectangular and being foldable about a first fold line and having a first height in the length direction, a first flap extending in a circumferential direction from the first tab and being foldable about a second fold line, the first flap having a second height in the length direction less than the first height.   
     
     
         8 . The prosthetic heart valve of  claim 7 , wherein the first flap is rectangular. 
     
     
         9 . The prosthetic heart valve of  claim 7 , wherein a top edge of the first tab is aligned with a top edge of the first flap. 
     
     
         10 . The prosthetic heart valve of  claim 7 , wherein the first tab is integral with the first flap. 
     
     
         11 . The prosthetic heart valve of  claim 7 , wherein the first tab is non-integral with the first flap, the first tab being attached to the first flap. 
     
     
         12 . The prosthetic heart valve of  claim 7 , wherein the first tab and the first flap are formed of the same material. 
     
     
         13 . The prosthetic heart valve of  claim 7 , wherein the first tab and the first flap are formed of different materials. 
     
     
         14 . The prosthetic heart valve of  claim 7 , wherein each leaflet further includes a second tab connecting a second end of the first edge to a second end of the second free edge, the second tab being rectangular and being foldable about a third fold line and having a third height in the length direction, a second flap extending in a circumferential direction from the second tab and being foldable about a fourth fold line, the second flap having a fourth height in the length direction less than the third height. 
     
     
         15 . A prosthetic heart valve, comprising:
 a collapsible and expandable stent having an inflow end and an outflow end, the stent including a plurality of commissure attachment features and a plurality of struts defining a plurality of cells, and the stent extending in a length direction from the inflow end to the outflow end; and   a collapsible and expandable valve assembly including a plurality of leaflets connected to the plurality of commissure attachment features;   wherein each leaflet includes a first edge operably coupled to the stent, a second free edge, a first tab connecting a first end of the first edge to a first end of the second free edge, the first tab being rectangular and being foldable about a first fold line extending in the length direction, a first flap extending in the length direction from the first tab and being foldable about a second fold line extending in a circumferential direction transverse the length direction.   
     
     
         16 . The prosthetic heart valve of  claim 15 , wherein the first flap is rectangular. 
     
     
         17 . The prosthetic heart valve of  claim 15 , wherein the first tab and the first flap are formed of the same material. 
     
     
         18 . The prosthetic heart valve of  claim 15 , wherein the first tab and the first flap are formed of different materials. 
     
     
         19 . The prosthetic heart valve of  claim 15 , further comprising a second flap extending in the length direction and foldable about a second fold line extending in the circumferential direction. 
     
     
         20 . The prosthetic heart valve of  claim 19 , wherein the second flap is coupled to leaflet at a juncture between a second end of the first edge of the leaflet and a second end of the second free edge of the leaflet.