HEART VALVE AND RETAINING MEANS THEREFOR

• US 3,839,741 A
• Filed: 11/17/1972
• Issued: 10/08/1974
• Est. Priority Date: 11/17/1972
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Jordan D. Haller
• Original Assignee: Jordan D. Haller
• Inventors: Haller, Jordan D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Gaudet, Richard A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Frinks, Ronald L.
• Application Number:
  US05/307,351
• Time in Patent Office: 690 Days
• Field of Search: 3/1,DIG.3 137/512.1,512.2,513,799
• US Class Current: 623/2.34
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/2409 Support rings therefor, e.g. for connecting valves to tissue annuloplasty rings A61F2/2442
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/2421 with non-pivoting rigid closure members
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 15/035 with a plurality of valve members
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 2200/202 one valve arranged inside of the valve member of a second valve, e.g. nested valve members
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/7841 One valve carries head and seat for second valve
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/7846 Mechanically interconnected
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/9138 Flexible

Abstract

An arrangement for retaining a heart valve in a passageway of a cardiovascular system, and a heart valve useable therewith. The retaining arrangement includes an annular arrangement surrounding the circular heart valve and engaging it so as to be radially expandable and contractable relative thereto while securely holding the heart valve in place. The annular arrangement may include a single overlapping loop or a plurality of arcuate segments, all of which could slidingly engage a circumferentially extending flange on the outside of the heart valve. The heart valve includes a plurality of circular elements interfitting in a single plane to close the valve and extending axially relative to each other to open the valve and hence permit fluid flow through the passageway.

Claims

1. In combination, a valve means and a valve retaining means for securing the valve means to the internal walls of a passageway in a cardiovascular system as a prosthetic replacement in the cardiovascular system, said valve means being movable between open and closed positions and including fixed external means at the outer periphery thereof;

said retainer means including an annular arrangement surrounding the valve means and including at least one stiff element operatively engaging the external means of the valve means, at least one of said external means and stiff element having slot means therein sLidably engaging the other for radial movement relative thereto, the retainer means thus being expandable and contractable relative to the valve means transversely of the direction of fluid flow in the passageway as the passageway enlarges and contracts.

2. The invention according to claim 1, said retainer means comprising a single element surrounding the valve means and overlapping itself circumferentially.

3. The invention according to claim 2, said single element including at least one slot on the radial inner side thereof and a radially outwardly extending circumferential flange on the outer wall of the valve means engaging said at least one slot so as to permit sliding radial movement of the single element relative to the flange.

4. The invention according to claim 1, wherein said valve means includes an outwardly extending circumferential flange engaging within slot means in said retainer means to operatively interconnect said valve means and said retainer means.

5. The invention according to claim 4, said retainer means comprising a plurality of individual segments arranged in an annulus around said valve body, each segment having an inner cavity formed thereon with a radially inwardly facing slot in said cavity engaging said flange of the valve means.

6. The invention according to claim 5, wherein said flange includes a spring means for urging said flange into engagement with the walls of the slots.

7. The invention according to claim 1, including a ring of fabric material surrounding the annular arrangement and adapted to be connected to the said passageway in the cardiovascular system.

8. The invention according to claim 1, said retaining means including a plurality of arcuately extending segments engaging the valve means for said radial sliding movement relative thereto.

9. The invention according to claim 8, said segments including a radial inner cavity having a radially inwardly opening slot slidingly engaging a circumferential flange on the valve means and an outer part adapted to secure thereto a fabric ring.

10. The invention according to claim 8, said segments being slidingly connected to each other circumferentially such that they can move circumferentially relative to each other as well as radially relative to the valve means.

11. The invention according to claim 8, each segment having an opening at one circumferential end thereof and a rod extending from the other circumferential end thereof, the rods slidingly interfitting into openings in the respective adjacent segment.

12. The invention according to claim 11, the segments, viewed in a radial plane, being essentially circular.

13. The invention accordng to claim 11, the segments, viewed in a radial plane, being essentially rectangular.

14. A valve adapted to be used as a replacement for a valve in a cardiovascular system comprising a valve body including a plurality of concentric ring shaped elements having inner and outer bevelled outer surface and a ring shaped outer ring element having a bevelled inner surface, said circular inner element, said ring shaped elements and said ring shaped outer element interfitting to lie in a common plane when the valve is closed, struts on each of said ring shaped elements and said inner circular element having bent outer ends to engage the adjacent element to limit the separation of said elements when the valve is opened, and a radially expandable contractable annular retainer means comprising at least one stiff segment arranged in an annulus around the valve body and having an inner cavity formed thereon with a radially inwardly facing slot in said cavity and a stiff flange means on said ring shaped outer element slidably engaging in said slot.

15. A valve accordng to claim 14, wherein said flange means includes spring means for urging said means into engagement with the walls of the slots.

16. A valve according to claim 14, including a plurality of said segments arranged annularly about the valve.