Cardiac valve prosthesis

A cardiac valve prosthesis configured for implantation at an implantation site including a plurality of Valsalva sinuses, the cardiac valve prosthesis comprising:

• a frame defining a principal axis of the cardiac valve prosthesis and a lumen for passage of blood flow through the cardiac valve prosthesis, the frame including:
• first and second annular elements, the annular elements expandable from a radially contracted state to a radially expanded state;
• a plurality of valve supports extending from at least one of the first or second annular elements and angularly spaced from one another about the principal axis of the cardiac valve prosthesis;
• and
• a plurality of connecting members extending between and connecting the first and second annular elements, wherein when the first and second annular elements are in the radially expanded state each of the connecting members arches radially outward with respect to the annular elements and is configured to project into one of the Valsalva sinuses when implanted, and wherein the connecting members are angularly spaced from the valve supports about the principal axis of the cardiac valve prosthesis;
• and
• a set of prosthetic valve leaflets supported by the valve supports, the valve leaflets configured to assume an open configuration under the action of blood flowing in a direction from the first annular element toward the second annular element, and are further configured to assume a substantially closed configuration in which the valve leaflets cooperate with one another to inhibit blood flow in a direction from the second annular element toward the first annular element.