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US 5,326,372 AGranted
Prosthetic heart valve assembly
AssigneeKalke Mhatre Associates
InventorsHarischandra K. Mhatre, Bhagavant R. Kalke
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A prosthetic heart valve assembly of the type having a ring member and pivotable leaflet structure is provided. Each individual leaflet pivots on a pair of peripheral flat ear members that oscillate in mating respective spherical bearing recesses. These recesses are formed in separate bearing blocks that radially seatingly engage mid-wall holes in a rigid, cross-sectionally C-configured ring member. Retaining means holds the bearing blocks in association with the ring member. Edge portions of the ear members and adjacent leaflet edges wipe the recesses and adjacent bearing block surfaces, thereby to avoid blood stagnation and clotting.
Claims23
A prosthetic heart valve assembly comprising:
- (a) an annular structure having a central passageway with a longitudinal axis;
- and
- (b) flap means disposed across said passageway and pivotable in response to fluidic pressure variations applied on an upstream side thereof for achieving one way fluid flow through said passageway;
- said flap means comprising at least one leaflet means that in a fully closed position generally extend(s) across said passageway;
- and each individual said leaflet means having a pair of outwardly extending ear members along respective outer peripheral portions, each said pair of ear members defining therebetween a pivot axis across their associated said leaflet means, each said leaflet means being bent along said pivot axis and having a flat configuration on each side of said pivot axis;
- said annular structure comprising a rigid ring member having in cross-section a C-type configuration with a mid-region and integral radially outturned longitudinally opposite ends and with a circumferentially extending inner face and a circumferentially extending outer face and also having defined in said mid-region at least two circumferentially spaced holes that radially extend through said ring member, each said hole having sides that are radially inwardly tapered;
- at least two separate bearing housings each one having recess means defined in a circumferentially forward face thereof, having circumferentially extending groove means defined in a circumferentially rearward face thereof, and also having radially tapered side walls that are nestably and sealingly seated within a different one of said holes, there being one said recess means for pivotally receiving and holding each said ear member, and also one said hole for each said bearing housing;
- and band retaining means extending circumferentially completely around said outer face in said mid-region and engaged with said groove means of each said so seated bearing housing for holding said bearing housings in said holes;
- and the interrelationship between said flap means and said annular structure being such that each said leaflet means is pivotable between fully open and fully closed positions across said passageway with said ear members each being pivotably associated with a different one of said recess means such that, when each said leaflet means is in said open position, one said side thereof is parallel to said longitudinal axis while the other said side thereof is inclined towards said longitudinal axis and towards said fully closed position;
- and edge portions of said ear members and of said leaflet means adjacent thereto wipe adjacent facial portions of said recesses and of said bearing housings adjacent thereto during pivotal movements of each said leaflet means.
7 more elements
A prosthetic heart valve assembly comprising:
- (a) an annular structure having a central circular passageway with a longitudinal axis;
- and
- (b) flap means disposed across said passageway and pivotable in response to fluidic pressure variations applied on an upstream side thereof for achieving one way fluid flow through said passageway;
- said flap means comprising a single leaflet member that generally extends across said passageway;
- and a pair of opposed, flat outwardly extending ear members along respective outer peripheral portions of said leaflet member and defining therebetween an eccentric pivot axis extending across said passageway for said leaflet member, said leaflet member being bent along said pivot axis and having a flat configuration on each side of said pivot axis;
- said annular structure comprising a rigid ring member having in cross-section a C-type configuration with a mid-region and integral radially outturned longitudinally opposite ends and with a circumferentially extending inner face and a circumferentially extending outer face and also having defined in said mid-region a pair of holes that radially extend through said ring member, each said hole with sides that are radially inwardly tapered;
- a pair of separate bearing housings, each one having a recess means defined in a circumferentially forward facial portion thereof having circumferentially extending groove means defined in a circumferentially rearward face thereof, and also having radially tapered side walls that are nestably and sealingly seated within a different one of said holes, said holes and said bearing housings cooperating with one another so that each said recess means is coaxial with said pivot axis;
- and band retaining means extending circumferentially completely around said outer base in said mid-region and engaged with said groove means of each of said so seated bearing housings for holding said bearing housings in said holes, said retaining means being located on external circumferential portions of said ring member;
- and
- the interrelationship between said flap means and said annular structure being such that each one of said ear members is pivotally associated with and retained by a different one of said recess means so that said leaflet member is pivotable between a fully open position and a fully closed position across said passageway with said ear members each being associated with a different one of said recess means such that, when said leaflet member is in said open position, one said side thereof is parallel to said longitudinal axis and the other said side thereof is inclined towards said longitudinal axis and towards said fully closed position;
- and edge portions of said ear members and of said leaflet member adjacent thereto wipe adjacent facial portions of said recess means and of said bearing housings adjacent thereto during pivotal movements of said leaflet member.
8 more elements
A prosthetic heart valve assembly comprising:
- (a) an annular structure having a central circular passageway with a longitudinal axis;
- and
- (b) flap means disposed across said passageway and pivotable in response to fluidic pressure variations applied on an upstream side thereof for achieving one way fluid flow through said passageway;
- said flap means comprising a plurality of leaflet members that together in respective fully closed positions generally extend across said passageway in circumferentially adjacent, generally non-overlapping relationship, each said leaflet member including a peripheral portion that is curved circularly and also two peripheral portions that each extend radially;
- and a pair of opposed, flat outwardly extending ear members associated with each leaflet member, each one of said pair of ear members being located along a different opposite end area of said curved peripheral portion of said associated leaflet member, each ear member of said pair defining therebetween across their associated said leaflet member an eccentric pivot axis for said associated leaflet member, each said leaflet member being bent along said pivot axis and having a flat configuration on each side of said pivot axis;
- said annular structure comprising a rigid ring member having in cross-section a C-type configuration with a mid-region and integral radially outturned longitudinally opposite ends and with a circumferentially extending inner face and a circumferentially extending outer face and also having defined in said mid-region at least two holes that radially extend through said ring member, each hole having sides that are radially inwardly tapered;
- at least two separate bearing housings, each one having at least one recess means defined in a circumferentially forward face thereof, having circumferentially extending groove means defined in a circumferentially rearward face thereof, and also having radially tapered side walls that are nestably and sealingly seated within a different one of said holes, there being one said recess means for pivotally journaling and holding each said ear member and also one said hole for each said bearing housing;
- and band means circumferentially and externally extending about said outer face in said mid-region for retaining said bearing housing in said holes;
- and
- the interrelationship between said flap means and said annular structure being such that each one of said leaflet members is independently pivotable between a fully open position and a fully closed position across said passageway with said ear members each being associated with a different one of said recess means such that, when each one of said leaflet members is in said open position, one said side thereof is parallel to said longitudinal axis while the other said side thereof is inclined towards said longitudinal axis and towards said fully closed position;
- and edge portions of said ear members and of said leaflet member adjacent thereto wipe adjacent facial surface portions of said recess means and of said bearing housings adjacent thereto during pivotal movements of said leaflet members.
8 more elements
A prosthetic heart valve assembly comprising:
- (a) an annular structure having a central passageway;
- and
- (b) flap means disposed across said passageway and pivotable in response to fluidic pressure variations applied on an upstream side thereof for achieving one way fluid flow through said passageway;
- said flap means comprising leaflet means that generally extends across said passageway;
- and flat outwardly extending ear members along outer peripheral portions of said leaflet means;
- said annular structure comprising a rigid ring member having in cross-section a C-type configuration with a mid-region and integral radially outturned opposite ends and also having defined in said mid-region at least two circumferentially spaced holes that radially extend through said ring member, each said hole having sides that are radially inwardly tapered;
- at least two separate bearing housing each one have recess means defined in a forward face thereof and also having a tapered side wall that is nestably and sealingly seatable within a different one of said holes, there being one said recess means for pivotally receiving and holding each said ear member, and also one said hole for each said bearing housing;
- and band retaining means extending circumferentially completely around said outer face in said mid-region for holding said bearing housings in said holes;
- and the interrelationship between said flap means and said annular structure being such that said leaflet means is pivotable between open and closed positions across said passageway with said ear members each being associated with a different one of said recess means;
- and edge portions of said ear members and of said leaflet means adjacent thereto wipe adjacent facial portions of said recesses and of said bearing housings adjacent thereto during pivotal movements of said leaflet member.
7 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.