Flexible heart valve having moveable commissures
First Claim
1. A heart valve for implantation in an annulus of a heart having commissures on an outflow end adapted to move in conformity with an anatomical wall structure adjacent the annulus, the heart valve comprising:
- three leaflets made of a biocompatible and compliant material, each leaflet having a rounded cusp edge opposite a free edge, and a pair of generally oppositely-directed tabs separating the cusp edge and free edge;
a cusp support structure generally defining a ring and a valve axis and having three rounded sections each adapted to conform to the cusp edge of the leaflets, the cusp edge of each leaflet being attached to a different rounded section of the cusp support structure so that the three leaflets are arranged generally evenly about the valve axis, the attached leaflet cusp edges and rounded sections together defining valve cusps curving toward an inflow end of the valve;
three valve commissure posts disposed between the valve cusps and projecting generally axially toward an outflow end of the valve, the commissure posts being defined by two adjacent leaflet tabs, a generally axially extending insert member, and an inverted V-shaped clip positioned radially inward from the insert member, the adjacent leaflet tabs being juxtaposed to extend radially outward with respect to the axis through the inverted V-shaped clip and being wrapped around and secured to the insert member, an inflow end of each commissure post being generally pivotally coupled with respect to the cusp support structure so as to permit both radially inward and outward movement thereof, the valve commissure posts being attachable to the anatomical wall structure; and
a sewing band shaped to follow the valve cusps and being attached therealong, the sewing band providing a platform for implanting the heart valve such that the valve cusps are attachable adjacent the annulus.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A flexible prosthetic tissue-type heart valve having commissures that are substantially decoupled from a cusp support structure. The valve includes three leaflets having arcuate cusp edges and opposed free edges, with outwardly-directed attachment tabs therebetween. A cusp support structure in either one or more pieces attaches to the leaflet cusp edges. Three commissures are each formed partly with an axially-extending insert member to which two adjacent leaflet tabs attach. An inverted V-shaped clip maintains close contact between the adjacent leaflet tabs and provides a stress-relieving clamping action in conjunction with the insert member. The insert member attaches about its lower end to base sections of the cusp support structure, or to an intermediate sewing ring, so that the commissures may pivot about the cusp support structure. The sewing band is scalloped and enables attachment of the valve along the scalloped aortic root so as to couple the valve to the natural motion of the aorta. Increased vibrational damping results from this biomechanical coupling.
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Citations
29 Claims
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1. A heart valve for implantation in an annulus of a heart having commissures on an outflow end adapted to move in conformity with an anatomical wall structure adjacent the annulus, the heart valve comprising:
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three leaflets made of a biocompatible and compliant material, each leaflet having a rounded cusp edge opposite a free edge, and a pair of generally oppositely-directed tabs separating the cusp edge and free edge;
a cusp support structure generally defining a ring and a valve axis and having three rounded sections each adapted to conform to the cusp edge of the leaflets, the cusp edge of each leaflet being attached to a different rounded section of the cusp support structure so that the three leaflets are arranged generally evenly about the valve axis, the attached leaflet cusp edges and rounded sections together defining valve cusps curving toward an inflow end of the valve;
three valve commissure posts disposed between the valve cusps and projecting generally axially toward an outflow end of the valve, the commissure posts being defined by two adjacent leaflet tabs, a generally axially extending insert member, and an inverted V-shaped clip positioned radially inward from the insert member, the adjacent leaflet tabs being juxtaposed to extend radially outward with respect to the axis through the inverted V-shaped clip and being wrapped around and secured to the insert member, an inflow end of each commissure post being generally pivotally coupled with respect to the cusp support structure so as to permit both radially inward and outward movement thereof, the valve commissure posts being attachable to the anatomical wall structure; and
a sewing band shaped to follow the valve cusps and being attached therealong, the sewing band providing a platform for implanting the heart valve such that the valve cusps are attachable adjacent the annulus. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. An aortic heart valve adapted to have reduced vibration-related strain, comprising:
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three leaflets each having arcuate cusp edges on their inflow ends, free edges on the outflow ends, and two side tabs;
three cusp supports each attached to the cusp edge of one of the leaflets to define valve cusps, the valve cusps being disposed generally in a circle about a valve axis at an inflow end of the valve;
three generally axially extending commissure posts disposed in between the valve cusps around the circle and extending toward an outflow end of the valve, the commissure posts each being defined by an insert and adjacent tabs of two leaflets attached thereto, wherein the inserts are structurally separate from the three cusp supports but coupled thereto at an end closest to the cusp supports to enable radial pivoting of the outflow end of the commissure posts relative to the cusp supports; and
a sewing band shaped to follow the valve cusps and being attached therealong, the sewing band and inserts providing a platform for implanting the aortic heart valve such that the valve cusps are attachable adjacent the annulus, and the inserts are attachable to the ascending aorta, the commissure posts therefore being freely moveable with respect to the valve cusps so as to generally pivot radially in and out in conjunction with movement of the ascending aorta during the repetitive cycles of systole and diastole such that the heart valve is dynamically coupled to the damping characteristics of the ascending aorta. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29)
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Specification