SPLIT LEAFLET CHECK VALVE FOR CARDIAC SURGERY AND THE LIKE

• US 3,589,392 A
• Filed: 05/05/1969
• Issued: 06/29/1971
• Est. Priority Date: 05/05/1969
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Louis C. Meyer
• Original Assignee: Louis C. Meyer
• Inventors: Meyer, Louis C.
• Application Number:
  US04/821,808
• Time in Patent Office: 785 Days
• US Class Current: 137/846
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/2403 with pivoting rigid closure members check valves with hinged closure members in general F16K15/03
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/2412 with soft flexible valve members, e.g. tissue valves shaped like natural valves check valves with flexible valve members in general F16K15/14
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 15/147 the closure elements having specially formed slits or being of an elongated easily collapsible form
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 15/16 with tongue-shaped laminae
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/7882 Having exit lip
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/7891 Flap or reed

Abstract

A check valve for cardiac surgery and the like has a hollow valve body supporting a split leaflet divided into separable portions hinged for swinging movement from the base thereof between a normally closed position and an open position wherein the leaflet forms a continuation of one end of the hollow body. Inturned edges of the separable leaflet portions converging from the body are in a sealed engagement with a seat on the body and terminate in longitudinal edges which are in a sealed engagement to one another in the normally closed position.

Claims

1. A heart valve for cardiac surgery comprising a hollow, cylindrical valve body provided with an inner, beveled valve seat having oppositely disposed reversely inclined edges facing in the direction of flow, an annular split leaflet supported by the valve body having a pair of oppositely disposed separable portions extending from one end of the body in the direction of flow, hinge means at the valve seat for supporting said separable portions along the inner side portions of said valve body, said hinge means for each separable portion including a relatively narrow section of resilient material and a base section forming a broader continuation of the hinge means to secure each separable portion from within the valve body, said separable portions having sealing edges converging in the direction of flow extending along the reversely inclined edges of the valve seat and terminating in longitudinal sealing edges at the free ends thereof, said separable portions swinging between a normally closed position with the longitudinal and sealing edges in sealed relation to the valve seat and to one another, respectively, and an open position with the inner wall surface of the separable portions defining a longitudinal continuation of the inner wall surfaceS of the valve body.

2. In a check valve for controlling fluid flow through a passage, a hollow base and separable leaflet portions supported for swinging movement relative to the base, said leaflet portions having convergent sealing edges extending from and along the base and terminating in longitudinal sealing edges between the free ends thereof, said separable portions being movable between an open position defining a longitudinal continuation of the base to a normally closed position with said convergent edges of the separable portions in sealed relation against the base and said longitudinal edges in sealed relation to one another, said leaflet portions having relatively narrow hinge sections forming continuations of the convergent sealing edges and being diametrically opposed to one another, said hinge sections being composed of a yieldable material of a molecular structure to form a living-type hinge biasing the separable leaflet portions in the closed position.

3. In a check valve for controlling fluid flow through a passage, a hollow base and separable leaflet portions supported for swinging movement relative to the base, said leaflet portions having convergent sealing edges extending from and along the base and terminating in longitudinal sealing edges between the free ends thereof, said separable portions being movable between an open position defining a longitudinal continuation of the base to a normally closed position with said convergent edges of the separable portions in sealed relation against the base and said longitudinal edges in sealed relation to one another, each said leaflet portion having a relatively narrow flexible hinge section forming a continuation of the convergent sealing edge and a base section forming a broader continuation of the hinge section secured along said base to dispose said leaflet portions diametrically opposed to one another.

4. In a check valve as set forth in claim 3 wherein each said hinge section is made of a molded plastic material with said leaflet portions preset to the closed position.

5. In a check valve as set forth in claim 3 wherein said longitudinal sealing edges and said convergent sealing edges are curved, characterized by the cutting of reversely inclined intersecting longitudinal planes through the center of a hollow, thin-walled cylinder to define a Y-shaped parting line.

6. In a check valve as set forth in claim 3 wherein said base and leaflet portions are defined by a part of a hollow cylinder having a generally Y-shaped section through the cylinder removed defining a generally Y-shaped parting line with one another and with a transverse inclined inner edge of the base.

7. A check valve for controlling fluid flow passage, an annular valve body provided with a circular beveled valve seat having reversely inclined edges transversely of the direction of flow, a split leaflet supported by the body having arcuate separable portions hinged at the valve seat for extension from one end of the body in the direction of fluid flow, said separable portions having convergent sealing edges extending from opposite sides of the valve body along the valve seat and terminating in longitudinal sealing edges, said sealing edges being disposed along a Y-shaped parting line in a direction longitudinally of said body, said separable portions being movable to a normally closed position with the longitudinal and convergent sealing edges in sealed relation to said inclined edges of the valve seat and to one another, respectively, and an open position defining longitudinal extension of the inner wall surfaces of said valve body.

8. A check valve as set forth in claim 7 wherein each said leaflet portion has a relatively narrow flexible hinge section forming a continuation of the convergent sealing edge and a base section forming a broader continuation of the hinge section secured along the body to dispose said leaflet portions diametrically opposed to one another.