Implantable heart valve

• US 3,898,701 A
• Filed: 01/17/1974
• Issued: 08/12/1975
• Est. Priority Date: 01/17/1974
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Joseph La Russa
• Original Assignee: Joseph La Russa
• Inventors: La Russa, Joseph
• Primary Examiner(s): Frinks, Ronald L.
• Application Number:
  US05/434,321
• Time in Patent Office: 572 Days
• Field of Search: 3/1,DIG.3,1.5 137/512.1,512.15,512.4,525,525.1
• US Class Current: 623/2.17
• 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: A61F 2/2454 Means for preventing inversion of the valve leaflets, e.g. chordae tendineae prostheses
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 15/1472 the closure elements being fixed onto an internally extending mount
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/784 Integral resilient member forms plural valves
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/7882 Having exit lip

Abstract

An implantable heart valve is disclosed and includes a flattened, flexible tubular body preferably made of silicone rubber, an annular spacing member inserted into and opening the upstream end of the tubular body, the downstream end of the body forming a flap valve with inner working surfaces that contact each other when the valve is closed and move apart when the valve is opened, and an anti-inversion separator carried by the annular spacing member and extending into the tubular body and between the working surfaces thereof such that a portion of the working surfaces contact the anti-inversion separator when the valve is closed. Additional embodiments include a suturing sleeve attached to the upstream end of the tubular body and a stiff shroud surrounding the tubular body and attached thereto at the upstream end.

Claims

1. Heart valve comprising:

a. a flattened, flexible tubular body;

b. spacing means inserted into and opening the upstream end of said tubular body, the downstream end of said tubular body forming a flap valve with inner working surfaces that contact each other when the valve is closed and move apart when the valve is open;

c. a centrally positioned, flat, tongue-like anti-inversion member carried by said spacing means and extending into the tubular body between the working surfaces thereof, a portion of said working surfaces contacting said anti-inversion member when the valve is closed and the remaining portion of said working surfaces contacting each other around said antiinversion member when the valve is closed; and

d. an annular mesh sleeve embedded in the upstream end of said tubular body for suturing the valve to the heart tissue.

2. Heart valve of claim 1 wherein said spacing means is an annular member inserted into and opening the upstream end of said tubular body.

3. Heart valve of claim 1 wherein said tongue-like member decreases in width towards the downstream end of said tubular body.

4. Heart valve of claim 1 wherein said tongue-like member terminates short of the downstream end of said tubular body.

5. Heart valve of claim 1 provided with a relatively stiff, tubular shroud surrounding said tubular body and attached thereto at the upstream end.