Systems, devices, and methods relating to the manufacture of intravascularly implantable prosthetic valves

Abstract

Improved prosthetic heart valves, their methods of manufacture, and systems and devices for manufacturing the valves are described. The prosthetic heart valves can be configured for transcatheter implantation. The prosthetic heart valves can have artificial leaflets. The prosthetic heart valves can be manufactured in numerous ways, such as by polymeric dipping processes.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of manufacturing an implantable valve, comprising:
 dipping only one end of a stent in wet polymer;   placing the dipped stent on a mold, the mold comprising draft angle positions and a contoured surface portion adjacent to draft angle positions, wherein the dipped stent is placed on the mold such that draft angle positions are aligned with commissure positions on the stent;   dipping the mold and dipped stent in wet polymer such that at least the contoured surface portion of the mold and at least a portion of the stent are covered in a polymer coating; and   curing the polymer coating.