A multi-leaflet valve adapted to serve as a prosthesis for diseased native
valve of a mammal is incorporated in self-expandable or inflatable
endovascular stents or stents to form a combination which is introduced
on a catheter with a guide wire into the circulatory system of the mammal
to replace the diseased native valve. Once the combination is at the
desired location the stent is caused to expand and affix itself to the
patient's vessel wall. The prosthetic valve has the shape of a truncated
cone that has an inflow and an outflow orifice with leaflets forming the
outflow orifice and forming a plurality of commissures. A first flexible
circular support is affixed in a substantially circular fashion around
the truncated cone in proximity of the inflow orifice, and a second
flexible circular support is affixed at the location of the commissures
to form a circle around the truncated cone in proximity of the outflow
orifice. The circular supports maintain the shape of the valve during the
surgical implantation procedure and thereafter.