| CPC A61F 2/88 (2013.01) [A61F 2/2418 (2013.01); A61F 2/2433 (2013.01); A61F 2220/0008 (2013.01); A61F 2230/0004 (2013.01); A61F 2230/0067 (2013.01); A61F 2230/0091 (2013.01); A61F 2250/001 (2013.01)] | 20 Claims |

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1. A heart valve prosthesis for replacing a diseased native valve in a heart of a patient, the valve prosthesis comprising:
a compressible and expandable frame structure having a frame axis;
a valve segment disposed within the frame structure, the valve segment comprising a biocompatible one-way valve; and
a compressible and expandable anchor permanently attached to and configured to encircle an outer periphery of the frame structure, wherein the anchor comprises a spiral wire and a free end, the free end having a larger radius of curvature than the spiral wire;
wherein the heart valve prosthesis has an anchoring configuration in which the anchor is in an expanded state, the frame structure is in a collapsed state, and the frame axis is centrally located within the spiral wire;
wherein when heart valve prosthesis is in the anchoring configuration, rotation of the spiral wire is configured to guide the frame structure into the native valve.
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