Process and apparatus for the production of a heart valve prosthesis

Abstract

An elastic textile covering is applied over an annular support of a heart valve prosthesis by inserting the preferably collar shaped textile covering through the annular support, turning two projecting axial ends of the textile covering over the outer surface of the annular support and then joining the two axial ends to each other to form a seam that preferably extends entirely around an outer periphery of the annular support. This seam can be concealed by a collar, which also may be covered by the textile covering. An apparatus for applying the textile covering to the annular support includes two coaxial annular rings into which the annular support and textile covering are inserted. Each of the rings includes structure for attachment to a respective axial end of the textile covering.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.