VALVE

• US 20100036504A1
• Filed: 06/18/2009
• Published: 02/11/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 12/23/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Vysera Biomedical Limited
• Original Assignee: Vysera Biomedical Limited
• Inventors: BEHAN, Niall, SOBRINO-SERRANO, Gabriel
• Application Number:
  US12/487,308
• Publication Number:
  US 20100036504A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 623/23.680
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00827 Treatment of gastro-esophageal reflux
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/04 Hollow or tubular parts of organs, e.g. bladders, tracheae, bronchi or bile ducts A61F2/18, A61F2/20 take precedence; devices, other than stent-grafts, providing patency to, or preventing collapsing of, tubular structures of the body other than stent-grafts, e.g. stents A61F2/82; instruments specially adapted for placement or removal of stents or stent-grafts A61F2/95
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/24 Heart valves ; Vascular valves, e.g. venous valves; Heart implants, e.g. passive devices for improving the function of the native valve or the heart muscle; Transmyocardial revascularisation [TMR] devices; Valves implantable in the body
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/2418 Scaffolds therefor, e.g. support stents
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/2476 Valves implantable in the body not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/90 characterised by a net-like or mesh-like structure
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/91 made from perforated sheet material or tubes, e.g. perforated by laser cuts or etched holes
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/95 Instruments specially adapted for placement or removal of stents or stent-grafts
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/044 Oesophagi or esophagi or gullets
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2250/0039 differing in diameter
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2250/0067 Means for introducing or releasing pharmaceutical products into the body

Abstract

An esophageal valve has a restriction to allow antegrade passage of swallowed food and controlled retrograde passage of fluid. The restriction comprises an iris having a number of folds.

Claims

1. An esophageal valve having a restriction to allow antegrade passage of swallowed food and controlled retrograde passage of fluid, the restriction comprising an iris having a number of folds.

2. A valve as claimed in claim 1 wherein the valve is adapted to be opened when different forces are applied in the antegrade and retrograde directions.

3. A valve as claimed in claim 2 wherein the valve is adapted to open in the antegrade direction in response to antegrade forces and to open in the retrograde direction in response to retrograde forces, the retrograde force required to open the valve being substantially greater than the antegrade force required to open the valve.

4. A valve as claimed in claim 1 wherein the iris is formed from a tubular precursor, the ends of which are oppositely rotated.

5. A valve as claimed in claim 4 wherein the precursor is folded as the ends are oppositely rotated.

6. A valve as claimed in claim 4 wherein the precursor is generally cylindrical.

7. A valve as claimed in claim 4 wherein the precursor is generally of hourglass shape.

8. A valve as claimed in claim 1 wherein the restriction comprises at least three folds.

9. A valve as claimed in claim 1 wherein the valve has means to set the differential forces required to open the valve.

10. A valve as claimed in claim 9 wherein the valve comprises a stop to restrict the opening of the valve in one direction.

11. A valve as claimed in claim 9 comprising strengthening means to restrict the opening of the valve in one direction.

12. A valve as claimed in claim 1 comprising a support for the iris.

13. A valve as claimed in claim 12 wherein the tubular iris is attached to the support.

14. A valve as claimed in claim 13 wherein a distal end of the tubular iris is attached to the support and a proximal end of the tubular iris is attached to the support.

15. A valve as claimed in claim 14 wherein the attachments are arranged such that the valve will open in response to different forces applied in the antegrade and in the retrograde directions.