Dynamic fixation of porcine aortic valves
AssigneeMedtronic, Inc.
InventorCarol E. Eberhardt
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method of preserving porcine heart valves so that they may be incorporated into prosthetic heart valves for human implant. During fixation, the leaflets of the valves are repeatedly flexed throughout their full range of motion. Flexing of the leaflets continues throughout fixation, and is accomplished by providing for alternating fluid flow through the valve from the inflow and outflow sides sufficient to cause the leaflets to fully open and close.
Claims17
A method of preserving porcine heart valves, comprising exposing said valves to a fixative solution while repeatedly alternating fluid flow of said fixative solution through said valves in a fashion to cause repeated full opening and closing of said valves due to fluid flow of said fixative.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.