Heart valve prosthesis
AssigneeHemex, Inc.
InventorJerome J. Klawatter
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Single or double-leaflet heart valves include leaflet valve members which are arcuate in cross section, preferably being essentially a portion of the wall of a circular tube. Generally spherical sectors protrude oppositely from the leaflets and are received in elongated, complementary depressions in the interior wall of the annular valve body at generally diametrically opposite locations. As the leaflets pivot between the open and closed positions, the guides move from one end of the elongated depressions to the other. Eccentric pivot axes provide for quick response of the leaflets, and their arcuate shape coupled with shifting of the axes during pivoting moves the leaflets out of the center of the valve passageway reducing resistance to the free flow of blood.
Claims19
A heart valve prosthesis comprising an annular valve body having a central passageway for the flow of blood therethrough in a predetermined direction from upstream to downstream and
- valve member means which is generally a section of a tube arcuate in transverse cross section having concave and convex surfaces and supported for substantially pivotal movement on eccentric axis means between a closed position blocking blood flow through said central passageway and an open position allowing blood flow therethrough, the convex surface thereof facing upstream in said closed position,
- said valve member means including a pair of guides projecting in opposite directions which define the pivotal axis thereof,
- said annular valve body having elongated depressions formed therein at generally diametrically opposite locations wherein said guides are received,
- each of said elongated depressions extending for a longitudinal distance greater than its transverse dimension so that said guides move back and forth therealong at the same time they move pivotally therewithin thereby defining a shifting pivot axis relative to said valve body as said valve member means pivots from the closed to the open position wherein said concave surface thereof faces the centerline of said central passageway with the longitudinal axis of said tubular section being generally aligned with said passageway centerline and thereby opens up the center for normal blood flow therethrough.
A heart valve prosthesis comprising an annular valve body having a central passageway for the flow of blood therethrough in a predetermined direction from upstream to downstream and
- a single valve member which is generally a section of a tube of curved cross section having a concave surface and a convex surface and supported on an eccentric axis for substantially pivotal movement between a closed position blocking blood flow through said central passageway and an open position allowing blood flow therethrough, the convex surface thereof facing upstream in said closed position,
- said valve member and said annular valve body including interengaging means which define the pivotal axis of said valve member in the form of projecting guides and elongated depressions, with said guides being received within said depressions so that said valve member concave surface faces the centerline of said central passageway in the open position,
- each of said elongated depressions extending for a longitudinal distance greater than its transverse dimension so that said guides move back and forth therealong at the same time they move pivotally therewithin, and
- said valve body being formed with stop means for locating said valve member in said open position with the axis of said tube substantially parallel to said passageway centerline.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.