Heart Valve Prosthesis with Varying Strut Thickness

The stent framework employs struts with varying thicknesses along its peripheral circumference, creating local quality differences. Specifically, certain struts are designed with greater thickness than others to provide enhanced structural support in regions requiring higher rigidity, while thinner struts are used in areas needing flexibility for deformation. This non-uniform strut thickness distribution enables the framework to adapt to the D-shaped mitral valve annulus geometry while maintaining manufacturability through controlled variation rather than complete complexity.

The invention introduces asymmetry into the stent framework design by deliberately creating an asymmetric distribution of strut thicknesses around the peripheral direction. This asymmetric configuration allows the framework to transform from a circular shape in its compressed state to a D-shaped contour when expanded and implanted, matching the natural anatomy of the mitral valve annulus. The asymmetric design is achieved through selective thickening of specific struts while keeping others thinner, enabling geometric adaptation without requiring completely different manufacturing processes.

The stent framework achieves the balance between strength and deformability through local quality variation in strut thickness. Thicker struts are positioned in regions requiring high structural support and rigidity to maintain durability, while thinner struts are placed in areas that need to deform to match the anatomical geometry of the mitral valve annulus. This spatially differentiated design allows different portions of the framework to exhibit different mechanical properties, simultaneously satisfying both strength and adaptability requirements.

The invention implements dynamic characteristics in the stent framework by designing it to transition between different structural states. In its compressed delivery state, the framework maintains a rigid circular shape for easy catheter-based delivery. Upon deployment, it transforms into an expanded D-shaped configuration that conforms to the mitral valve annulus. The varying strut thicknesses enable this dynamic transformation, allowing the framework to be rigid when needed for support and flexible when needed for geometric adaptation.

The invention resolves the strength-adaptability trade-off by applying local quality principles to strut thickness. Instead of uniformly thinning all struts to achieve the D-shaped contour, the design selectively thins only those struts located in regions where flexibility and deformation are prioritized. Struts in regions requiring high structural support maintain greater thickness. This localized differentiation allows the framework to achieve the desired D-shaped geometry while preserving structural strength in critical areas.

The asymmetric distribution of strut thicknesses enables the framework to achieve D-shaped contour adaptation without uniformly compromising structural strength. By strategically placing thicker struts in specific asymmetric positions around the framework perimeter, the design creates regions of high strength where needed while allowing other regions to be thinner for geometric conformity. This asymmetric thickening strategy ensures that adaptability to the D-shaped contour is achieved without sacrificing overall structural integrity.