Implant valve for implantation in a blood vessel
First Claim
1. An implant valve for implantation in a blood vessel, comprising:
- a flexible tube; and
a hollow, substantially cylindrical support extending over a part of a length of the flexible tube substantially coaxially along a wall of the tube, the support comprising a casing that is expandable in diameter from an initial position to an implantation position having an expanded diameter that causes the tube to contact an inner wall of the blood vessel, wherein the casing when expanded to the implantation position comprises;
a first portion that supports a first part of the tube to provide a shell for clamping substantially coaxially along the inner wall of the blood vessel; and
a second portion that configures a second, axially contiguous part of the tube to provide a flexible, tubular valve body, which in use extends substantially clear of the inner wall of the blood vessel;
wherein the support includes an axially extending finger-shaped extension configured to support at least a portion of an inner wall of the second part of the tube that forms the flexible, tubular valve body, and wherein the flexible, tubular valve body formed from the flexible tube by the second portion of the casing is configured to allow blood to pass through in a first direction and to collapse so as to restrict passage of blood in a second direction opposite the first direction.
11 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An implant valve for implantation in a blood vessel is comprised of a flexible tube and a hollow, substantially cylindrical support with a casing, expandable in diameter from an initial position to an implantation position. The support extends substantially coaxially over a part of the length of the tube along the inner wall of the tube. The casing of the support cooperates with the inner wall of the tube such that, in the implantation position, a first part of the tube can be formed into a rigid shell, which can be clamped substantially coaxially along the inner wall of a blood vessel. A second, axially contiguous part of the tube can then form a flexible, tubular valve body, which can extend substantially clear in the blood vessel. In an advantageous embodiment, the flexible tube comprises a vein turned inside out and the ends of the tube are connected to form a ring embracing the support.
34 Citations
8 Claims
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1. An implant valve for implantation in a blood vessel, comprising:
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a flexible tube; and a hollow, substantially cylindrical support extending over a part of a length of the flexible tube substantially coaxially along a wall of the tube, the support comprising a casing that is expandable in diameter from an initial position to an implantation position having an expanded diameter that causes the tube to contact an inner wall of the blood vessel, wherein the casing when expanded to the implantation position comprises; a first portion that supports a first part of the tube to provide a shell for clamping substantially coaxially along the inner wall of the blood vessel; and a second portion that configures a second, axially contiguous part of the tube to provide a flexible, tubular valve body, which in use extends substantially clear of the inner wall of the blood vessel; wherein the support includes an axially extending finger-shaped extension configured to support at least a portion of an inner wall of the second part of the tube that forms the flexible, tubular valve body, and wherein the flexible, tubular valve body formed from the flexible tube by the second portion of the casing is configured to allow blood to pass through in a first direction and to collapse so as to restrict passage of blood in a second direction opposite the first direction. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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Specification