PROSTHETIC HEART VALVE, PROSTHETIC HEART VALVE ASSEMBLY AND METHOD FOR MAKING SAME
First Claim
1. A mold assembly for forming a prosthetic valve having at least one leaflet, the mold assembly comprising:
- a first plate having a first side from which at least one leaflet mold extends and a planar portion adjacent the at least one leaflet mold, wherein the planar portion comprises a thickness and multiple access holes through its thickness; and
a second plate having at least one mold opening and a planar portion adjacent to the at least one mold opening, wherein each mold opening is sized and shaped to correspond with one of the leaflet molds of the first plate, and wherein the planar portion comprises a thickness and multiple access holes through its thickness;
wherein the second plate is positionable relative to the first plate so that each of the leaflet molds of the first plate extend at least partially through one of the mold openings of the second plate.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A mold assembly for forming a prosthetic valve having at least one leaflet, which includes a first plate having a first side from which at least one leaflet mold extends and a planar portion adjacent the at least one leaflet mold, wherein the planar portion has multiple access holes through its thickness, and a second plate having at least one mold opening and a planar portion adjacent the at least one mold opening, wherein each mold opening is sized and shaped to correspond with one of the leaflet molds of the first plate, and wherein the planar portion has multiple access holes through its thickness. The second plate is positionable relative to the first plate so that each of the leaflet molds of the first plate extend at least partially through one of the mold openings of the second plate.
60 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A mold assembly for forming a prosthetic valve having at least one leaflet, the mold assembly comprising:
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a first plate having a first side from which at least one leaflet mold extends and a planar portion adjacent the at least one leaflet mold, wherein the planar portion comprises a thickness and multiple access holes through its thickness; and a second plate having at least one mold opening and a planar portion adjacent to the at least one mold opening, wherein each mold opening is sized and shaped to correspond with one of the leaflet molds of the first plate, and wherein the planar portion comprises a thickness and multiple access holes through its thickness; wherein the second plate is positionable relative to the first plate so that each of the leaflet molds of the first plate extend at least partially through one of the mold openings of the second plate. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A method of forming a prosthetic heart valve, comprising the steps of:
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providing a first plate having a first side from which at least one leaflet mold extends and a planar portion adjacent to the one leaflet mold and having a thickness, wherein the planar portion comprises multiple access holes through its thickness through which fluid can flow and wherein the at least one leaflet mold comprises a convex outer surface; positioning a sheet of material over the convex surface of each of the leaflet molds and at least a portion of the planar portion of the first plate; providing a second plate comprising at least one mold opening and a planar portion adjacent to the at least one mold opening and having a thickness, wherein each mold opening is sized and shaped to correspond with one of the leaflet molds of the first plate, and wherein the planar portion comprises multiple access holes through its thickness through which fluid can flow; positioning the second plate relative to the first plate and sheet of material so that the portion of the sheet of material that covers each of the leaflet molds of the first plate extends at least partially through one of the mold openings of the second plate. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A method of forming a leaflet of a prosthetic heart valve, comprising the steps of:
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placing a first piece of material on a working surface with a first surface of the first piece of material facing generally outwardly; placing a leaflet mold on the first surface of the first piece of material, wherein the leaflet mold comprises a planar surface, a convex surface extending from the planar surface, an outer peripheral shape that comprises a curved portion, and a post extending from the leaflet mold in a direction that is generally parallel to the planar surface of the leaflet mold; placing a second piece of material over the first piece of material and the convex surface of the leaflet mold; stitching the first piece of material to the second piece of material along at least a portion of the curved portion of the outer peripheral shape of the leaflet mold; and removing the leaflet mold from the first and second pieces of material. - View Dependent Claims (20)
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Specification