Prosthetic heart valve with increased valve lumen

DETAILED DESCRIPTION A heart valve prosthesis for implantation in the heart of a patient includes a valve housing or body providing a lumen therethrough.
At least one occluder in the lumen coupled to the valve body is movable between an open position allowing blood flow through the lumen and a closed position in which blood flow through the lumen is blocked.
The valve housing includes a first annulus and a second annulus spaced apart from the first annulus.
The first and second annuli are on opposite ends of the valve housing.
A suture cuff is provided for attaching the valve housing to heart tissue of a patient.
A cuff retention mechanism is positioned between the first and second annuli for attaching the suture cuff to the valve housing.
The suture cuff and at least the part of the cuff retention mechanism nearer the tissue annulus is spaced apart from the first annulus and the second annulus, providing tissue impingement barriers therebetween.
The absence of suture cuff and cuff retention mechanism from the impingement barrier at the tissue annulus facilitates efficient lumenal utilization of the available tissue annulus area and thereby provides a significant beneficial feature.
In one embodiment, the cuff retention mechanism includes first and second rims which protrude from the valve housing.
In another embodiment, the retention mechanism includes a single rim protruding from the valve housing.
The cuff retention mechanism supplies support to the valve housing thereby strengthening the valve housing.