Tissue attachment devices and methods for prosthetic heart valves
First Claim
1. A multi-leaflet heart valve defining a lumen, the heart valve comprising;
- a first leaflet having first and second sides;
a second leaflet having first and second sides, wherein the first side of an end portion of the first leaflet is adjacent to the first side of an end portion of the second leaflet;
a first outer tube layer having first and second sides, wherein the first side of an end portion of the first outer tube layer is adjacent to the second side of the end portion of the first leaflet;
a second outer tube layer having first and second sides, wherein the first side of an end portion of the second outer tube is adjacent to the second side of the end portion of the second leaflet; and
a first seam protector adjacent to and lying along at least a portion of the surface of the second side of the first outer tube layer;
wherein the first seam protector comprises a first curved surface facing the lumen of the heart valve, the first curved surface being positioned along a line about which the first leaflet will flex;
wherein the first seam protector comprises an enlarged cylindrical portion and an extending linear portion, wherein the cylindrical portion defines the first curved surface.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A multi-leaflet valve, which includes at least two leaflets, an outer tube, and a seam protector for each seam. Each seam protector is positioned to be in contact with a portion of the outer tube, with tube portions and leaflet ends being positioned between adjacent seam protection pieces. The seam protectors provide a lower stress surface about which the leaflets can bend or flex during their opening and closing. The seam protectors may include an enlarged end portion with an extending straight surface, an inverted U-shaped structure, or a sinusoidal-shaped structure, for example. The valve can further be provided with a seam cover or protector that is stitched onto the seam allowance of the layers of one or more of the seams. The seams can be provided with one or more inserts to fill spaces between adjacent tissue layers and create tension in certain material sheets.
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Citations
16 Claims
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1. A multi-leaflet heart valve defining a lumen, the heart valve comprising;
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a first leaflet having first and second sides; a second leaflet having first and second sides, wherein the first side of an end portion of the first leaflet is adjacent to the first side of an end portion of the second leaflet; a first outer tube layer having first and second sides, wherein the first side of an end portion of the first outer tube layer is adjacent to the second side of the end portion of the first leaflet; a second outer tube layer having first and second sides, wherein the first side of an end portion of the second outer tube is adjacent to the second side of the end portion of the second leaflet; and a first seam protector adjacent to and lying along at least a portion of the surface of the second side of the first outer tube layer; wherein the first seam protector comprises a first curved surface facing the lumen of the heart valve, the first curved surface being positioned along a line about which the first leaflet will flex; wherein the first seam protector comprises an enlarged cylindrical portion and an extending linear portion, wherein the cylindrical portion defines the first curved surface. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A prosthetic heart valve defining a lumen, the heart valve comprising:
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a first tissue layer having first and second sides; a second tissue layer having first and second sides, wherein the first side of the first tissue layer is adjacent to the first side of the second tissue layer to form a seam of the heart valve; and a first seam protector adjacent to and lying along at least a portion of the surface of the second side of the second tissue layer, the first seam protector comprising a first enlarged cylindrical portion and a first extending linear portion, wherein the first cylindrical portion defines a first curved surface facing the lumen of the heart valve and positioned along a line about which the second tissue layer flexes. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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Specification