Artificial Valve Prosthesis with Improved Flow Dynamics
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An expandable venous valve having a support structure that configured to enlarge the area adjacent to the valve structure such that the flow patterns of retrograde flow are modified in a way that facilitates the flushing of the pockets at the base of the valve area to prevent stagnation of bodily fluid, which in the venous system, can lead to thrombus formation. The enlarged pocket areas can be created by forming an artificial sinus adjacent the valve structure in an unsupported section of vessel wall between two support frame section or the support frame can comprise an expanded-diameter intermediate or proximal section that forms an artificial sinus adjacent the valve structure. In another group of embodiments, the attachment pathway between opposing leaflets and the support frame and/or vessel wall comprises a proximal portion that places the leaflets in extended contact with one another and a distal portion forms a large angle with respect to the adjacent walls such that a large pocket is created at the base of the leaflets. In one embodiment, the attachment pathway extends distally along a pair of substantially parallel longitudinal attachment struts to create an extended leaflet contact area, then angles circumferentially and distally from the former along distal attachment struts to define the bottom edge of the leaflets.
-
Citations
50 Claims
-
1-29. -29. (canceled)
-
30. A valve prosthesis for deployment in a bodily passage, said valve prosthesis having a longitudinal axis and comprising:
-
a support structure having at least one longitudinal attachment strut generally aligned with said longitudinal axis and at least one distal attachment strut extending at an angle to said longitudinal axis; and
a valve structure comprising a first leaflet having first proximal and first distal portions and a second leaflet having second proximal and second distal portions, the first and second proximal portions attached to the at least one longitudinal attachment strut and cooperatively defining a leaflet contact area, and the first and second distal portions attached to the at least one distal attachment strut. - View Dependent Claims (31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43)
-
-
44. A valve prosthesis for deployment in a bodily passage, said valve prosthesis having a longitudinal axis and comprising:
-
a support structure having first and second longitudinal attachment struts and first and second distal attachment struts, the longitudinal attachment struts being generally aligned with said longitudinal axis and disposed on opposite sides of the support frame and each of the first and second distal attachment struts extending at an angle to said longitudinal axis; and
a valve structure comprising a first leaflet having first proximal and first distal portions and a second leaflet having second proximal and second distal portions, the first and second proximal portions attached to the first and second longitudinal attachment struts and cooperatively defining a leaflet contact area, and each of the first and second distal portions attached to one of the first and second distal attachment struts. - View Dependent Claims (45, 46, 47, 48)
-
-
49. A valve prosthesis for deployment in a bodily passage, said valve prosthesis having a longitudinal axis and comprising:
-
a support structure having first and second pairs of longitudinal attachment struts and first and second distal attachment struts, each of the first and second pairs of longitudinal attachment struts defining an elongate closed cell in the support frame and being disposed on opposite sides of the support frame, and each of the distal attachment struts extending from one of the first and second pairs of longitudinal attachment struts at an angle to said longitudinal axis; and
a valve structure comprising a first leaflet having first proximal and first distal portions and a second leaflet having second proximal and second distal portions, the first and second proximal portions individually attached to a portion of each of the first and second pairs of longitudinal attachment struts and cooperatively defining a leaflet contact area, and the first and second distal portions attached to at least one of the first and second distal attachment struts.
-
-
50. A valve prosthesis for deployment in a bodily passage, said valve prosthesis having a prosthesis length and comprising:
-
a support frame having one or more attachment struts; and
first and second leaflets attached to the support frame and cooperatively defining a leaflet contact area having a length that is greater than 50% of said prosthesis length.
-
Specification