Tissue attachment devices and methods for prosthetic heart valves

A multi-leaflet heart valve defining a lumen, the heart valve comprising;

• a first leaflet having first and second sides;
• a second leaflet having first and second sides, wherein the first side of an end portion of the first leaflet is adjacent to the first side of an end portion of the second leaflet;
• a first outer tube layer having first and second sides, wherein the first side of an end portion of the first outer tube layer is adjacent to the second side of the end portion of the first leaflet;
• a second outer tube layer having first and second sides, wherein the first side of an end portion of the second outer tube is adjacent to the second side of the end portion of the second leaflet;
• and
• a first seam protector adjacent to and lying along at least a portion of the surface of the second side of the first outer tube layer;
• wherein the first seam protector comprises a first curved surface facing the lumen of the heart valve, the first curved surface being positioned along a line about which the first leaflet will flex;
• wherein the first seam protector comprises an enlarged cylindrical portion and an extending linear portion, wherein the cylindrical portion defines the first curved surface.