US 5,350,421 AGranted

Prosthetic heart valve

AssigneeOnx, Inc.

InventorsJonathan C. Stupka, Jack C. Bokros, Michael R. Emken, Axel D. Haubold, T. Scott Peters

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Abstract

Heart valves are shown which utilize pivot arrangements that create prompt response to flow reversal and minimize resistance to blood flow in the open position. Illustrated are valves having a pair of identical leaflets that can assume an orientation in the fully open position near maximum blood flow rate that is precisely parallel to the centerline of the passageway. The ability of the leaflets to assume a precisely parallel or low energy position in the bloodstream reduces pressure drop across the valve and results in improved flow characteristics. A camming action adjacent the upstream edges of the leaflets in combination with interengagement at downstream locations on the valve body, spaced from the locations where the camming action with said upstream edges occurs, positively guide the leaflets to assure effective closing movement regardless of momentary deviations in the dynamics of the reverse flow of blood through the valve. More particularly, slight closing movement pivoting, following assumption of such a parallel orientation, is effected by designing the interengagement so that the leaflets shift slightly downstream from the precisely parallel orientation when the blood flow slows prior to reversing and simultaneously rotate slightly toward their closed position orientation.

Claims17

Dependent claims

A prosthetic heart valve which comprises

a generally annular valve body having an interior wall which defines a central passageway for blood flow therethrough, having a longitudinal axis,
occluder means having an inflow surface, an upstream edge and an outflow surface, said occluder means being mounted in said valve body to alternate between an open position, which permits flow of blood therethrough in a downstream direction generally parallel to said longitudinal axis, and a closed position, which blocks the flow of blood in the reverse direction, said inflow surface facing generally upstream and said outflow surface facing generally downstream with said occluder means in the closed position, and
a pivot arrangement by which said occluder means is guided in sliding-pivoting movement between said open position and said closed position,
said pivot arrangement including
projection means which extends generally radially inward from said valve body interior wall at an upstream location, said occluder means engaging said projection means in said open position and sliding upstream in sliding engagement thereagainst during an initial closing movement of said occluder means, and
interengaging elements on said valve body at a second location downstream of said upstream location and on said occluder means, which elements interengage and cooperate with said projection means in guiding the closing movement of said occluder means,
said sliding engagement between said projection means and said occluder means in combination with said contact between said interengaging elements, as said occluder means is being displaced upstream when reverse flow of blood begins through said central passageway, being such as to cause said occluder means to pivot toward said closed position,
said interengaging elements being in contact with each other at a first position when blood flow is near maximum flow through said passageway, in which position said outflow and inflow surfaces of said occluder means are oriented parallel to said longitudinal axis, and
said contact between said interengaging elements shifting downstream to a second position, which is downstream of said first position, when blood flow slows prior to reversing, and as a result of said downstream shifting, said occluder means pivots toward its closed position orientation.

6 more elements

A prosthetic heart valve which comprises

a generally annular valve body having an interior, generally arcuate wall which defines a central passageway having a longitudinal axis for blood flow therethrough,
a pair of cooperating leaflets, each having an inflow surface, an outflow surface and a pair of opposite lateral edge surfaces, said leaflets being mounted in said valve body to alternate between an open position where flow of blood in a downstream direction is permitted and a closed position where flow of blood in a reverse direction is blocked, and
a pivot arrangement by which said leaflets are guided in moving between said open position and said closed position, said arrangement permitting said leaflets to assume an orientation substantially parallel to said longitudinal axis in their open position while said leaflets are axially displaceable upstream, relative to said valve body, upon the reversal of blood flow,
said pivot arrangement including
first interengaging means formed at an upstream location on said valve body and on said occluders, which first interengaging means exerts a camming action upon an upstream portion of each of said leaflets upon upstream axial displacement of said leaflets, which camming action is effective to cause each said leaflet to immediately begin to swing toward its closed position orientation, and
second interengaging means on said valve body, at a location downstream of said upstream location, and on each said leaflet adjacent each lateral edge surfacer thereof,
contact at said second interengaging means between said valve body and each said leaflet being such as to cause said leaflets to assume an open position orientation in which said inflow and outflow surfaces are substantially parallel to said longitudinal axis when blood flows at near maximum flow rate and being such as to cause each said leaflet to shift to a downstream position when the blood flow slows prior to reversing, as a result of which downstream shifting, each of said leaflets rotates up to about 5.degree. toward its closed position orientation and is no longer parallel to said longitudinal axis.

4 more elements

A prosthetic heart valve which comprises

an annular valve body having an interior wall which defines a passageway therethrough for flow of blood in a downstream direction, which passageway has a longitudinal axis,
a pair of leaflets which translate and pivot to alternatively open and close said passageway to flow of blood therethrough,
each of said leaflets having a main body portion with an upstream edge and a pair of coaxial, oppositely extending lateral ears,
each said ear having a generally circular cylindrical bearing surface,
said annular valve body interior wall having a pair of diametrically opposed flat wall sections, each of said flat wall sections having formed therein a pair of depressions for respectively receiving one said ear of each of said leaflets,
each said depression including a central section having a first flat sidewall portion which is perpendicular to said flat wall section of said valve body and generally parallel to said longitudinal axis of said central passageway of said valve body,
said first flat sidewall potion of each depression means facing away from a centerline plane which includes said valve body longitudinal axis and is perpendicular to said valve body flat wall sections,
said valve body also having a plurality of projections which at least in part protrude generally radially inward from said flat wall sections, each of said projections having a camming surface,
said projections being located upstream of portions of said depressions so that said camming surfaces are engaged by said leaflets at locations generally along said upstream edges of said leaflets when said leaflets are located in the open position, and said depressions being located so that said leaflets assume an orientation wherein said main body portion of each said leaflet is aligned parallel with said longitudinal axis when blood flow is near a maximum flow and so that said leaflets shift to a downstream position when blood flow slows prior to reversing, during which downstream shifting said leaflets pivot slightly toward their closed position orientations.

6 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 07/958,049Filed 6 Oct 1992 · continuation in part
Priority: 25 Mar 1991
Granted: 27 Sep 1994
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification6 codes

A61F 2/2409
Heart valves ; Vascular valves, e.g. venous valves; Heart implants, e.g. passive devices for improving the function of the native valve or the…:…
A61F 2/2403
Heart valves ; Vascular valves, e.g. venous valves; Heart implants, e.g. passive devices for improving the function of the native valve or the…:…
Y10T 137/7875
Biased open: pivoted valves
Y10T 137/7898
Direct response valves [i.e., check valve type]: pivoted valves

Family

Serial674,871Parent of this continuation-in-part · filed 25 Mar 1991
Serial837,761Parent of this continuation-in-part · filed 18 Feb 1992
US 5,192,309 AParent of this continuation-in-part
US 5,152,785 AParent of this continuation-in-part
US 5,350,421 AThis patent

From the US filing history. Foreign family members aren’t listed.

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