Abstract: A heart valve prosthesis including a valve body having a first retainer integrally formed with an outer surface thereof. A grafting assembly is formed to include a stiffening member having an axial bore extending therethrough and a second retainer integral with a surface of the stiffening member. The valve body is mounted within the bore of the stiffening member. A retaining member engages the first and second retainers to limit axial displacement of the stiffening member relative to the valve assembly.

Abstract: A packaging container for a heart valve includes a container having a first inner barrier member and a second inner barrier member. A support shelf is mounted in the first inner barrier member of the container. A heart valve has a first side and a second side, first side being engaged with the support shelf. An insert member is engaged with the second side of the heart valve and is engaged with the second inner barrier member the packaging container is mounted within an outer barrier container.

Abstract: A pusher-rotator for installing a heart valve prosthesis including a handle and a flexible shaft extending from the handle. A valve holder is attached to a terminal end of the shaft. A bendable member is formed of a material which is bendable to hold a fixed shape. The bendable member includes multiple contact points for supporting the flexible shaft at spaced apart support points and maintaining the flexible shaft rotatable in a flexed orientation.

Abstract: A heart valve holder is provided for implanting a prosthetic heart valve in either an inflow (mitral or tricuspid) or an outflow (aortic or pulmonary) implantation. The valve holder may be repeatedly sterilized for multiple implantations. The valve holder includes holding members to securely hold the valve, a valve-sizing member to allow the holder to hold valves of various sizes, an over rotation stop to prevent the holder from impinging upon the valve leaflets, alignment members to align the holding members for receiving a valve, and means to rotate the valve without damaging the valve leaflets.

Abstract: A combined heart valve and vascular graft, or "valve/graft combination", wherein the heart valve has a sewing ring that is substantially impervious to blood flow. In our preferred embodiment, the sewing ring comprises a solid circular silicone insert which supports the sewing ring radially outwardly form the valve and forms a shield to prevent the flow of blood through the sewing ring.