Bioprosthetic heart valve
First Claim
1. A replacement tissue heart valve, which valve comprises an annulus having a central passageway, three generally crescent-shaped struts connected generally near the midpoints thereof to said annulus at angularly spaced locations therealong, three separate biocompatible flexible leaflets respectively attached to one of each of said struts in locations so as to converge toward one another to close said passageway and to thereafter diverge therefrom to reopen said passageway, each of said leaflets being supported as a stand-alone unit which moves independently of other said leaflets, said annulus and said struts being covered with biocompatible fabric, and a sewing ring encircling said annulus.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A trileaflet biological prosthetic heart valve (11, 41) comprising a thin, rigid annular outer frame (25, 43) which supports three elastic, laminated spring inner frames (18, 57) which in turn provide consistent geometric form and structure for attachment of tissue leaflets (15, 71).
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Citations
19 Claims
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1. A replacement tissue heart valve, which valve comprises
an annulus having a central passageway, three generally crescent-shaped struts connected generally near the midpoints thereof to said annulus at angularly spaced locations therealong, three separate biocompatible flexible leaflets respectively attached to one of each of said struts in locations so as to converge toward one another to close said passageway and to thereafter diverge therefrom to reopen said passageway, each of said leaflets being supported as a stand-alone unit which moves independently of other said leaflets, said annulus and said struts being covered with biocompatible fabric, and a sewing ring encircling said annulus.
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16. A bioprosthetic heart valve, which valve comprises
an annulus having a central passageway, three generally crescent-shaped struts connected generally near the midpoints thereof to said annulus at angularly spaced locations therealong, and three separate biocompatible flexible leaflets respectively attached to one of each of said struts in locations so as to converge toward one another to close said passageway and to thereafter diverge therefrom to reopen said passageway, each of said crescent-shaped struts being made from a plurality of pieces of biocompatible metal spring material of sheet form juxtaposed with one another as a lamination, which individual pieces are connected to one another only at central locations and thus end portions thereof move independently.
Specification