Mechanical heart valve prosthesis
AssigneeMedtronic, Inc.
InventorsMark C. Shu, Jeffrey M. Gross, Hong S. Shim
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An improved artificial mechanical heart valve prosthesis having an improved leaflet hinge mechanism which improves washing of the hinge recess, reduces leaflet closing impact force and decreases noise and wear. A generally annular valve body having an annular interior surface extending between an inflow rim and an outflow rim thereof defines an annular orifice therethrough. A pair of leaflets are supported on said annular valve body for alternately blocking blood flow in an inflow direction when seated against the annular interior side wall in a closed position and then allowing the flow of blood through said annular orifice in a predetermined blood outflow direction when rotated into an open position.
Claims19
A mechanical heart valve prosthesis comprising:
- an annular valve body having an interior side wall;
- at least one valve leaflet within the annular valve body;
- and
- a plurality of hinges, each hinge comprising:
- a hinge recess in the annular valve body interior side wall having a hinge recess bearing surface, the binge recess bearing surface including an inflow portion having an inflow recess bearing surface, and an outflow portion having an outflow recess bearing surface;
- and
- a leaflet ear having a leaflet ear bearing surface projecting from an edge of the at least one valve leaflet, the leaflet ear and hinge recess bearing surface being sized and shaped to flush blood from the hinge recess when the at least one valve leaflet moves;
- and wherein:
- an entrance ramp is defined in the inflow recess bearing surface to direct laminar blood flow into the hinge recess and over the inflow recess bearing surface as the leaflet ear bearing surface sweeps over the hinge recess bearing surface during movement of the valve leaflet between open and closed positions.
A mechanical heart valve prosthesis comprising:
- an annular valve body having an interior side wall;
- at least one valve leaflet within the annular valve body;
- and
- a plurality of hinges, each hinge comprising:
- a hinge recess in the valve body interior side wall having a hinge recess bearing surface, the hinge recess bearing surface including an inflow portion having an inflow recess bearing surface, and an outflow portion having an outflow recess bearing surface;
- and
- a leaflet ear having a leaflet ear bearing edge projecting from an edge of the leaflet, the leaflet ear bearing edge and hinge recess bearing surface being sized and shaped to flush blood from the recess when the leaflet moves;
- and wherein an outflow flat extends from each outflow recess bearing surface in the outflow direction,
- whereby the leaflet ear bearing edge sweeps over said recess bearing surface and flushes flood components from said outflow hinge recess into said outflow flat as the leaflet moves between a closed and an open position.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.