Polymer heart valve

A prosthetic heart valve comprising:

• a valve body;
• and a plurality of flexible leaflets, each leaflet comprising an attachment end attached to said valve body and a free margin, wherein said free margin comprises a center portion and two side portions, an inflow surface and an outflow surface, said inflow surface comprising a first flat face, a second flat face, and a leaflet center, said first and second flat faces intersecting at said leaflet center, and wherein said outflow surface comprises a curved surface disposed with respect to said inflow surface such that the center portion of the free margin has a first cross section which is greater than a second cross section of the side portions, said heart valve further having an open and closed position wherein when the valve is in the closed position, the first flat face of one of said plurality of leaflets is disposed adjacent and parallel to the second flat face of another one of said plurality of leaflets and the second flat face of said one of said plurality of leaflets is disposed adjacent and parallel to the first flat face of the another one of said plurality of leaflets.

A method for forming a flexible heart valve comprising the steps of:

• molding a one piece valve comprising a valve body and a plurality of flexible movable leaflets;
• and
• forming each leaflet to include an attachment end attached to said valve body and a free margin, wherein said free margin comprises a center portion and two side portions, an inflow surface and an outflow surface, said inflow surface comprising a first flat face, a second flat face, and a leaflet center, said first and second flat faces intersecting at said leaflet center, and wherein said outflow surface comprises a curved surface disposed with respect to said inflow surface such that the center portion of the free margin has a first cross section which is greater than a second cross section of the side portions, said heart valve further having an open and closed position wherein when the valve is in the closed position, the first flat face of one of said plurality of leaflets is disposed adjacent and parallel to the second flat face of another one of said plurality of leaflets and the second flat face of said one of said plurality of leaflets is disposed adjacent and parallel to the first flat face of the another one of said plurality of leaflets.

A method for occluding and permitting fluid flow between a first heart chamber and a second heart chamber or vessel comprising:

• providing a prosthetic heart valve between said first heart chamber and said second heart chamber or vessel, said prosthetic heart valve comprising a valve body and a plurality of flexible leaflets, each leaflet comprising an attachment end attached to said valve body and a free margin, wherein said free margin comprises a center portion and two side portions, an inflow surface and an outflow surface, said inflow surface comprising a first flat face, a second flat face, and a leaflet center, said first and second flat faces intersecting at said leaflet center, and wherein said outflow surface comprises a curved surface disposed with respect to said inflow surface such that the center portion of the free margin has a first cross section which is greater than a second cross section of the side portions, said heart valve further having an open and closed position wherein when the valve is in the closed position, the first flat face of one of said plurality of leaflets is disposed adjacent and parallel to the second flat face of another one of said plurality of leaflets and the second flat face of said one of said plurality of leaflets is disposed adjacent and parallel to the first flat face of the another one of said plurality of leaflets.