Intraluminal support structure and prosthetic valve for the same

A method for delivering an intraluminal support structure to an implantation site in a human or animal body, wherein the intraluminal support structure has a planar configuration with a long axis and a short axis, said method comprising:

• advancing a distal end of a delivery catheter through a body lumen to the implantation site, wherein the intraluminal support structure is carried on the distal end of the delivery catheter in a d configuration which is elongated along the long axis and has a reduced width along the short axis;
• transitioning the intraluminal support structure from its crimped configuration to a non-crimped configuration at the implantation site;
• folding the non-crimped intraluminal support structure to assume a non-planar folded configuration at the implantation site;
• and
• locking the non-crimped intraluminal support structure in the folded configuration;
• wherein the intraluminal support structure is implanted it its locked, folded, non-crimped configuration.