Mechanical heart valve
First Claim
1. A rotatable leaflet for a prosthetic heart valve comprising:
- a main portion including leading and trailing edge surfaces, and inner and outer surfaces connecting the leading and trailing edge surfaces, wherein the inner surface generally defines a convex curvature from the leading edge surface to the trailing edge surface and the outer surface generally defines a convex curvature proximate the leading edge surface and a concave curvature proximate the trailing edge surface; and
first and second winglet portions situated on opposite ends of the leaflet to facilitate rotation of the leaflet.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention relates to an improved trileaflet mechanical heart valve 100 and an improved leaflet 110 for use with such valve. The valve 100 and leaflet 110 of the present invention provide improved flow characteristics, minimize blood clotting behind the leaflets, and provide more natural opening and closing times. The valve includes a valve housing 105 which contains pivot/hinge mechanism (130, 200, and 300) for allowing rotation of and retention of the leaflets 110. The valve housing 105 also includes windows or openings 125 which allows for complete washing of the pivot/hinge mechanism (130, 200, and 300) as well as the leaflets 110. The novel leaflets 110 are airfoil-like having a complex S-shaped curvature on their outer surface. This novel geometry, when combined with the location of the leaflet'"'"'s pivot axis, causes a tendency for the leaflet 110 to rotate towards the closed position. Thus, the leaflet 110 begins to close much earlier than a conventional leaflet and is substantially closed before the flow reverses, similar to the function of a natural valve.
58 Citations
59 Claims
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1. A rotatable leaflet for a prosthetic heart valve comprising:
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a main portion including leading and trailing edge surfaces, and inner and outer surfaces connecting the leading and trailing edge surfaces, wherein the inner surface generally defines a convex curvature from the leading edge surface to the trailing edge surface and the outer surface generally defines a convex curvature proximate the leading edge surface and a concave curvature proximate the trailing edge surface; and
first and second winglet portions situated on opposite ends of the leaflet to facilitate rotation of the leaflet. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A rotatable leaflet for an early-closing prosthetic heart valve comprising:
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a main portion including leading and trailing edge surfaces, and inner and outer surfaces connecting the leading and trailing edge surfaces;
first and second winglet portions situated on opposite ends of the leaflet to facilitate rotation of the leaflet; and
closure means for causing the leaflet to rotate toward a closed position prior to substantial backwards flow of blood through the heart valve. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 26, 27, 28, 29)
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15. A mechanical prosthetic heart valve, the valve comprising:
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an annular housing having an inner circumferential surface; and
at least one leaflet disposed adjacent to the inner circumferential surface and capable of rotation between an open position in which blood can flow through the heart valve and a closed position in which blood is prevented from flowing through the heart valve, the leaflet comprising;
a main portion including leading and trailing edge surfaces, and inner and outer surfaces connecting the leading and trailing edge surfaces, wherein the inner surface generally defines a convex curvature from the leading edge surface to the trailing edge surface and the outer surface generally defines a convex curvature proximate the leading edge surface and a concave curvature proximate the trailing edge surface; and
first and second winglet portions situated on opposite ends of the leaflet to facilitate rotation of the leaflet.
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25. A mechanical early-closing prosthetic heart valve, the valve comprising:
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an annular housing having an inner circumferential surface; and
at least one leaflet disposed adjacent to the inner circumferential surface and capable of rotation between an open position in which blood can flow through the heart valve and a closed position in which blood is prevented from flowing through the heart valve, the leaflet comprising closure means for causing the leaflet to rotate toward a closed position prior to substantial back flow of blood through the heart valve.
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30. A mechanical prosthetic heart valve comprising:
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an annular housing having an inner circumferential surface; and
at least one leaflet disposed adjacent to the inner circumferential surface and capable of rotation between an open position in which blood can flow through the heart valve and a closed position in which blood is prevented from flowing through the heart valve, the at least one leaflet comprising a main portion including leading and trailing edge surfaces, and inner and outer surfaces connecting the leading and trailing edge surfaces, and first and second winglet portions situated on opposite ends of the at least one leaflet to facilitate rotation of the at least one leaflet; and
first and second leaflet pivot structures adapted to cooperate with the first and second winglets, respectively, to facilitate rotation of the at least one leaflet between the open and closed positions, each of the first and second leaflet pivot structures comprising;
an inflow projection extending from the inner circumferential surface of the housing and adapted to contact one of the winglet portions in one of the open and closed positions; and
a closing projection extending from the inner circumferential surface of the housing and adapted to contact one of the winglet portions in the closed position, wherein the closing projection and the inflow projection are configured and spaced from one another to increase flow velocity proximate the one of the winglet portions. - View Dependent Claims (31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43)
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37. A mechanical prosthetic heart valve comprising:
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an annular housing having an inner circumferential surface and defining at least one opening through the circumferential surface; and
at least one leaflet disposed adjacent to the inner circumferential surface and capable of rotation between an open position in which blood can flow through the heart valve and a closed position in which blood is prevented from flowing through the heart valve, the at least one leaflet comprising a main portion and first and second winglet portions situated on opposite ends of the leaflet to facilitate rotation of the leaflet, wherein no portion of the at least one leaflet is received within the at least one opening during rotation between the open and the closed position to provide for increased blood flow proximate to one of the winglet portions.
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44. A mechanical early-closing prosthetic heart valve, the valve comprising:
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an annular housing having an inner circumferential surface; and
at least one leaflet disposed adjacent to the inner circumferential surface and capable of rotation between an open position in which blood can flow through the heart valve and a closed position in which blood is prevented from flowing through the heart valve, the at least one leaflet comprising an early-closure means for creating a tendency for the leaflet to rotate toward the closed position such that the leaflet is substantially closed prior to the initiation of back flow of blood through the heart valve. - View Dependent Claims (45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53)
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54. A mechanical early-closing prosthetic heart valve, the valve comprising:
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an annular housing having an inner circumferential surface; and
at least one leaflet disposed adjacent to the inner circumferential surface and capable of rotation between an open position in which blood can flow through the heart valve and a closed position in which blood is prevented from flowing through the heart valve, the at least one leaflet comprising surfaces with complex curvatures for creating a tendency for the at least one leaflet to rotate toward the closed position such that the at least one leaflet is substantially closed prior to the initiation of back flow of blood through the heart valve. - View Dependent Claims (55, 56, 57, 58, 59)
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Specification