Percutaneous Transcatheter Heart Valve

A method for implanting an expansible prosthetic heart valve, the method comprising:

• p1 providing a prosthetic heart valve having an expansible structure, a flexible membrane, and a membrane support, wherein the flexible membrane comprises an expandable valve member affixed to the membrane support;
• p1 implanting the expansible structure within or adjacent to an intraluminal site and expanding the structure from a first reduced diameter to a second enlarged diameter, wherein a flow path extends therethrough;
• p1 positioning the flexible membrane in the flow path for permitting flow in a first direction and substantially resisting flow in a second direction;
• p1 positioning the membrane support in the flow path, wherein the membrane support does not flex during opening and closing of the flow path by the flexible membrane;
• and p1 displacing the expandable valve member and membrane support at a hinge or in an axial direction relative to the structure.