Prosthetic heart valve
First Claim
1. A stentless prosthetic heart valve, comprising:
- a plurality of thin, flexible leaflets, each of the leaflets having an inner face, an outer face, an in-flow edge, an out-flow edge, and side edges, the plurality of leaflets being sewn together along at least a portion of their side edges so as to form a substantially tubular valve structure having an in-flow end and an out-flow end, adjacent leaflets being arranged so that their side edges are substantially aligned and the inner faces of the leaflets engage each other adjacent the side edges, wherein the valve structure is movable between a closed position in which the out-flow edges of adjacent leaflets engage each other, and an open position in which the out-flow edges of adjacent leaflets are separated from each other except along the side edges, the sewn portions of the side edges of the leaflets biasing the leaflets toward a partially closed position.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A tubular prosthetic semilunar or atrioventricular heart valve is formed by cutting flat, flexible leaflets according to a pattern. The valve is constructed by aligning the side edges of adjacent leaflets so that the leaflet inner faces engage each other, and then suturing the leaflets together with successive stitches along a fold line adjacent the side edges. The stitches are placed successively from a proximal in-flow end of each leaflet toward a distal out-flow end. During operation, when the leaflets open and close, the leaflets fold along the fold line. Distal tabs extend beyond the distal end of each leaflet. The successive stitches terminate proximal of the distal tab portion so that no locked stitches are placed along the distal portion of the fold line. The tab portions of adjacent leaflets are folded over each other and sewn together to form commissural attachment tabs. The commissural tabs provide commissural attachment points to accommodate sutures and the like in order to secure the tab to a vessel wall, if a semilunar valve, and papillary muscles and/or chordae tendineae if an atrioventricular valve.
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Citations
48 Claims
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1. A stentless prosthetic heart valve, comprising:
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a plurality of thin, flexible leaflets, each of the leaflets having an inner face, an outer face, an in-flow edge, an out-flow edge, and side edges, the plurality of leaflets being sewn together along at least a portion of their side edges so as to form a substantially tubular valve structure having an in-flow end and an out-flow end, adjacent leaflets being arranged so that their side edges are substantially aligned and the inner faces of the leaflets engage each other adjacent the side edges, wherein the valve structure is movable between a closed position in which the out-flow edges of adjacent leaflets engage each other, and an open position in which the out-flow edges of adjacent leaflets are separated from each other except along the side edges, the sewn portions of the side edges of the leaflets biasing the leaflets toward a partially closed position. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32)
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16. A stentless semilunar heart valve, comprising:
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three thin, flexible leaflets, each of the leaflets having an inner face, an outer face, an in-flow edge, an out-flow edge, side edges, and tab portions extending outwardly beyond the side edges and positioned adjacent the out-flow edge, the leaflets being attached to each other along their side edges so as to form a substantially tubular valve structure having an in-flow end and an outflow end;
wherein the tab portions of adjacent leaflets engage each other to form commissural attachment tabs, at least a portion of each commissural attachment tab being adjacent the outer faces of the adjacent leaflets.
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26. A stentless heart valve, comprising:
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a first leaflet comprising a leaflet main body having an inner face, an outer face, a proximal end, a distal end, a first side edge, and a first tab portion adjacent the distal end and extending from the first side edge, the first tab portion connected to the first leaflet main body through a first neck portion; and
a second leaflet comprising a leaflet main body having an inner face, an outer face, a proximal end, a distal end, a second side edge, and a second tab portion adjacent the distal end and extending from the second side edge, the second tab portion having a longitudinal slot and connected to the second leaflet main body through a second neck portion;
the first side edge of the first leaflet and the second side edge of the second leaflet being substantially aligned with and attached to one another and the inner faces of the first leaflet and the second leaflet engaging each other adjacent the aligned side edges; and
wherein the second tab portion is folded so that the first and second neck portions extend through the longitudinal slot of the second tab portion.
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33. A method for making a stentless tubular prosthetic heart valve, comprising:
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providing a section of substantially flat, flexible material;
cutting a plurality of leaflets out of the flat material, each of the leaflets having an inner face, an outer face, a proximal end, a distal end, side edges, and tab portions adjacent the distal end and extending from the side edges;
aligning the side edges of adjacent leaflets together so that the inner faces of adjacent leaflets engage each other adjacent the side edges; and
sewing aligned side edges together so as to form a substantially tubular valve structure having an in-flow end and an out-flow end. - View Dependent Claims (34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 40, 41)
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39. A method of manufacturing a prosthetic heart valve comprising:
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providing a first valve leaflet and a second valve leaflet, the leaflets being formed separately from each other;
placing a portion of an inward face of the first valve leaflet against a corresponding portion of an inward face of the second valve leaflet; and
attaching the inward face portions to each other.
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42. A method of manufacturing a prosthetic valve comprising:
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providing first and second valve leaflets each having an integral tab portion at an end thereof; and
folding the tab portions relative to each other to provide a commissural tab, the commissural tab being attached to the leaflets along a commissural tab line such that free ends of the tabs extend outwardly from the line. - View Dependent Claims (43)
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44. A prosthetic valve comprising:
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a plurality of valve leaflets comprised of a flexible material, each leaflet having an inner surface and an outer surface, each leaflet attached to another leaflet along an attachment line, a portion of an inner surface face of one leaflet being in facing relationship with a portion of an inner surface of another leaflet at the attachment line; and
a commissural tab at an end of each attachment line, said tab having free ends configured for attachment to a blood vessel. - View Dependent Claims (45, 46, 47, 48)
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Specification