Prosthetic valve with concentric frames

Apparatus for use with a heart of a subject, the apparatus comprising an implant, the implant comprising:

• an inner stent frame that:
• defines a tubular portion and a plurality of inner-frame coupling elements, and
• has a relaxed expanded state in which the tubular portion defines an inner-stent-frame relaxed expanded diameter;
• a plurality of prosthetic leaflets, each prosthetic leaflet:
• secured to, and disposed within, the tubular portion, and
• defining a commissural portion;
• an outer stent frame, that:
• defines a ring and a plurality of outer-frame coupling elements, and
• has a relaxed expanded state in which the ring defines an outer-stent-frame relaxed expanded diameter that is smaller than the inner-stent-frame expanded diameter;
• a plurality of stitches, the stitches disposed at respective commissures defined by the implant;
• and
• a fabric connector, the fabric connector shaped to define (i) a panel having a first side and a second side, (ii) one or more leaflet-engaging tabs to which the commissural portions of the prosthetic leaflets are stitched, the tabs protruding from the first side of the panel, and (iii) a plurality of flaps, wrapped around elements of the inner stent frame and elements of the outer stent frame, and secured thus by the stitches;
• wherein:
• the plurality of stitches secures the commissural portions of the two leaflets to the inner stent frame and the outer stent frame by being attached to the fabric connector;
• and
• the inner stent frame and the outer stent frame, together define at least part of a frame assembly in which:
• the outer-frame coupling elements are fixed to the inner-frame coupling elements,
• the ring circumscribes the tubular portion, and
• the frame assembly:
• has a compressed state in which the frame assembly is transluminally advanceable to the heart, and
• is expandable into an expanded state in which the tubular portion defines an inner-stent-frame constrained expanded diameter that is smaller than the inner-stent-frame relaxed expanded diameter.