Prosthetic heart valve with suturing member having non-uniform radial width

A prosthetic valve, comprising:

• a circular frame element defining an opening for the passage of blood therethrough;
• a check valve element connected to the circular frame element and extending across the opening;
• and
• suturing member surrounding the circular frame element and having a first radial width in a first circumferential region of about one-quarter of the circumference substantially greater than a second radial width in a second remainder of the circumferential region to define a single extended portion for attachment to a patient's valve annulus.

A prosthetic heart valve, comprising:

• a circular frame element defining an opening for the passage of blood therethrough;
• a check valve element connected to the circular frame element and extending across the opening;
• and
• a generally pear-shaped suturing member surrounding the circular frame element.

A prosthetic heart valve, comprising:

• a circular frame element defining an opening for the passage of blood;
• a check valve element connected to the circular frame element and configured to substantially permit the flow of blood through the opening in a first direction and to substantially impair the flow of blood through the opening in a second direction opposite the first direction;
• and
• a suturing member surrounding the circular frame element and having a first radial width in a first circumferential region substantially greater than a second radial width in a second circumferential region to define an extended portion, the suturing member having transition regions between the first and second regions each having a radial width that gradually transitions between the first radial width and the second radial width.