Variably compliant natural tissue valve leaflets andvascular bioprosthetics 'incorporating variably compliantleaflets are provided along with methods for theirmanufacture. The variably compliant leaflets are fixedwith the leaflet base section under greater pressure thanthe leaflet tip section rendering them relatively stiffalong the leaflet base section and more flexible at theleaflet tip section. The radially variable flexingcharacteristics of the valve leaflets promote evendistribution of mechanical stress on the valve assemblyduring the cardiac cycle leading to improved hemodynamicperformance while retarding the calcification of theleaflet tissue.
