Prosthetic valves, frames and leaflets and methods thereof

A prosthetic valve comprising:

• a radially compressible and expandable frame having a longitudinal axis, an inflow end, and an outflow end, wherein the frame comprises a plurality of interconnected frame elements forming a plurality of cells, each of the cells defining an aperture, wherein the plurality of cells are arranged in exactly two rows of cells including a first circumferential row of first cells of the plurality of cells defining the inflow end of the frame and a second circumferential row of second cells of the plurality of cells defining the outflow end of the frame;
• wherein each second cell in the second row of cells is formed by a pair of longitudinal frame posts forming opposing sides of the second cell, a pair of upper frame elements forming an outflow portion of the second cell, and a pair of lower frame elements forming an inflow portion of the second cell;
• wherein a first upper frame element of each pair of upper frame elements has an upper end connected to a first end of a first longitudinal frame post of a respective pair of longitudinal frame posts, and a second upper frame element of the same pair of upper frame elements has an upper end connected to a first end of a second longitudinal frame post of the respective pair of longitudinal frame posts, and wherein the first and second upper frame elements have respective lower ends connected to each other in a V-shape having a first apex pointing toward the inflow end of the frame;
• and
• wherein a first lower frame element of each pair of lower frame elements has an upper end connected to a second end of the first longitudinal frame post of the respective pair of longitudinal frame posts, and a second lower frame element of the same pair of lower frame elements has an upper end connected to a second end of the second longitudinal frame post of the respective pair of longitudinal frame posts, and wherein the first and second lower frame elements have respective lower ends connected to each other in a V-shape having a second apex pointing toward the inflow end of the frame;
• wherein the second end of each longitudinal frame post terminates at a frame junction defined by the second end of the longitudinal frame post and the upper ends of two adjacent lower frame elements of two adjacent second cells and no other components of the frame.

A prosthetic valve comprising:

• a radially compressible and expandable frame having a longitudinal axis, an inflow end, and an outflow end, wherein the frame comprises a plurality of interconnected angled frame elements forming a plurality of cells, each of the cells defining an aperture, wherein the cells are arranged in a first circumferential row of cells of the plurality of cells and a second circumferential row of cells of the plurality of cells, wherein the first row of cells is upstream of the second row of cells;
• wherein an outflow portion of the second circumferential row of cells comprises a first circumferential row of angled frame elements interconnected with each other at a plurality of upper junctions and a plurality of lower junctions, wherein the upper junctions define the outflow end of the frame and the lower junctions point toward the inflow end of the frame, and wherein the lower junctions are not connected to other portions of the frame;
• and
• a plurality of longitudinal frame posts, wherein each of the upper junctions is connected to one of the longitudinal frame posts, which extends from the upper junction toward the inflow end of the frame in a direction that is parallel to the longitudinal axis;
• wherein an inflow portion of the second circumferential row of cells comprises a second circumferential row of angled frame elements interconnected with each other at a plurality of upper junctions and a plurality of lower junctions, wherein a lower end of each longitudinal frame post terminates at a respective upper junction of the second circumferential row of angled frame elements which is not connected to other portions of the frame.