Heart valve prosthesis
AssigneeHemex, Inc.
InventorJerome J. Klawitter
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Double-leaflet heart valves having improved flow through the orifice defined by an annular valve body include a pair of leaflets which may be arcuate or flat in cross section. Guides protrude oppositely from the leaflets and are received in complementary depressions in the interior wall surface of a pair of standards which extend downstream from the annular valve body at generally diametrically opposite locations. The depressions are preferably elongated so that, 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 the location of the depressions in the standards moves the leaflets out of the annular valve body, reducing resistance to the free flow of blood therethrough.
Claims18
A heart valve prosthesis comprising an annular valve body having a central passageway therethrough designed to be mounted to permit the flow of blood therethrough in a predetermined downstream direction, and
- a pair of leaflets which are supported for substantially pivotal movement on eccentric axes between a closed position blocking blood flow through said central passageway and an open position allowing blood flow therethrough in said predetermined downstream direction,
- said annular valve body including a pair of substantially diametrically opposed standards extending from a main portion of said body in said predetermined downstream direction,
- said leaflets and said valve body including projecting guides and complementary depressions which receive said guides,
- said depressions and said projecting guides mounting said leaflets in a manner to allow pivotal movement relative to said annular valve body,
- either said depressions or said guides being located at least partially in said standards so that, in the open position, said leaflets are substantially displaced from the spatial region of said main portion of said annular valve body in a direction downstream of the flow of blood therethrough.
A heart valve prosthesis comprising an annular valve body having a central passageway therethrough which is designed to be mounted to permit the flow of blood therethrough in a predetermined downstream direction, and
- a pair of leaflets which are supported by pairs of guides in opposed elongated depressions upon said annular valve body for substantially pivotal movement on eccentric axes between a closed position blocking blood flow through said central passageway and an open position allowing blood flow therethrough in said predetermined downstream direction, the locations of said eccentric axes shifting relative to said valve body in a downstream direction as said leaflets pivot to the open position,
- said leaflets each including a major body portion which is a section of a tube having a curved sidewall and being mounted with their concave surfaces facing each other in the open position and facing downstream in the closed position, said axes being located substantially upstream of the center of gravity of said leaflets when said leaflets are in the open position, and
- said valve body being formed with stop means exterior of said depressions which is positioned downstream of said location of said eccentric axes in said closed position.
A heart valve prosthesis comprising an annular valve body having a central passageway therethrough which is designed to be mounted to permit the flow of blood therethrough in a predetermined downstream direction, and
- a pair of leaflets which are supported by pairs of elongated guides in opposed elongated depressions upon said annular valve body for a substantially pivotal movement on eccentric axes between a closed position blocking blood flow through said central passageway and an open position allowing blood flow therethrough in said predetermined downstream direction, the locations of said eccentric axes shifting relative to said valve body in a downstream direction as said leaflets pivot to the open position,
- said leaflets each including a major body portion which is a section of a tube having a curved sidewall and being mounted with their concave surfaces facing each other in the open position and facing downstream in the closed position, said axes being located substantially upstream of the center of gravity of said leaflets when said leaflets are in the open position, and
- said depressions each having a straight edge along which said guide lies in the closed position, a straight edge along which said guide lies in the open position and an arcuate edge along which a downstream end of said guide travels as said leaflets pivot from the closed to the open position, said arcuate edge being located farther from a plane through the centerline of the passageway than said pivot axes.
A heart valve prosthesis comprising an annular valve body having a central passageway therethrough of substantially circular cross section which valve body is designed to be mounted to permit the flow of blood therethrough in a predetermined downstream direction, said valve body having seat means formed by a surface facing generally downstream, and
- a pair of leaflets which are supported upon said annular valve body for substantially pivotal movement on parallel eccentric axes between a closed position blocking blood flow through said central passageway and an open position allowing blood flow therethrough in said predetermined downstream direction,
- said leaflets each including a major body portion which is a section of a tube having an elliptical cross section and said leaflets being mounted with their concave surfaces facing each other, the curvature of said elliptical tubular section being chosen and said axes being located such that the downstream edge of each of said leaflets is substantially semi-circular, said downstream edge having a radius of curvature less than that of said seat means surface, whereby the curved edge of the leaflet in the closed position forms line contact with said seat surface and provides a close seal therewith.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.