Heart valve
First Claim
1. An artificial heart valve comprising a support structure defining an aperture for blood flow and a flexible leaflet which is movable relative to the support structure between an open configuration in which the leaflet permits blood flow through the aperture and a closed configuration in which the leaflet restricts blood flow through the aperture,wherein the aperture defines an axis and a lateral cross-section taken through the leaflet in a plane lateral to the axis defines an outwardly convex portion, an outwardly concave portion and a junction between the convex and concave portions when the leaflet is in the open and closed configurations and all leaflet configurations intermediate the open and closed configurations including a natural or default configuration in which the leaflet is formed, andwherein the leaflet is attached to the support structure along first and second at least partially straight lines of attachment such that movement of the leaflet between the open and closed configurations results in the convex portion of the lateral cross-section pivoting about one of the first and second lines of attachment and the concave portion of the lateral cross-section pivoting about the other of the first and second lines of attachment.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An artificial heart valve comprises a support structure defining an aperture for blood flow and a flexible leaflet connected to the support structure along first and second at least partially straight lines of attachment, wherein the leaflet is movable relative to the support structure between an open configuration in which the leaflet permits blood flow through the aperture and a closed configuration in which the leaflet restricts blood flow through the aperture. A lateral cross-section taken through the leaflet defines an outwardly convex portion, an outwardly concave portion and a junction between the convex and concave portions. The heart valve may be configured for implantation in a human or animal subject. A method of manufacturing a heart valve and a former for use in such a method are also disclosed.
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Citations
47 Claims
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1. An artificial heart valve comprising a support structure defining an aperture for blood flow and a flexible leaflet which is movable relative to the support structure between an open configuration in which the leaflet permits blood flow through the aperture and a closed configuration in which the leaflet restricts blood flow through the aperture,
wherein the aperture defines an axis and a lateral cross-section taken through the leaflet in a plane lateral to the axis defines an outwardly convex portion, an outwardly concave portion and a junction between the convex and concave portions when the leaflet is in the open and closed configurations and all leaflet configurations intermediate the open and closed configurations including a natural or default configuration in which the leaflet is formed, and wherein the leaflet is attached to the support structure along first and second at least partially straight lines of attachment such that movement of the leaflet between the open and closed configurations results in the convex portion of the lateral cross-section pivoting about one of the first and second lines of attachment and the concave portion of the lateral cross-section pivoting about the other of the first and second lines of attachment.
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26. An artificial heart valve comprising a support structure defining an aperture for blood flow and a flexible leaflet which is movable relative to the support structure between an open configuration in which the leaflet permits blood flow through the aperture and a closed configuration in which the leaflet restricts blood flow through the aperture,
wherein the aperture defines an axis and a lateral cross-section taken through the leaflet in a plane lateral to the axis defines an outwardly convex portion, an outwardly concave portion and a junction between the convex and concave portions, wherein the leaflet is attached to the support structure along first and second at least partially straight lines of attachment such that movement of the leaflet between the open and closed configurations results in the convex portion of the lateral cross-section pivoting about one of the first and second lines of attachment and the concave portion of the lateral cross-section pivoting about the other of the first and second lines of attachment, and wherein the leaflet is attached to the support structure along a base line of attachment which is adjacent to the aperture and which is outwardly convex.
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27. An artificial heart valve comprising a support structure defining an aperture for blood flow and a flexible leaflet which is movable relative to the support structure between an open configuration in which the leaflet permits blood flow through the aperture and a closed configuration in which the leaflet restricts blood flow through the aperture,
wherein the aperture defines an axis and a lateral cross-section taken through the leaflet in a plane lateral to the axis defines an outwardly convex portion, an outwardly concave portion and a junction between the convex and concave portions, wherein the leaflet is attached to the support structure along first and second at least partially straight lines of attachment such that movement of the leaflet between the open and closed configurations results in the convex portion of the lateral cross-section pivoting about one of the first and second lines of attachment and the concave portion of the lateral cross-section pivoting about the other of the first and second lines of attachment, and wherein the leaflet is attached to the support structure along a base line of attachment which is adjacent to the aperture and which extends circumferentially at least part way around the aperture.
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28. An artificial heart valve comprising a support structure defining an aperture for blood flow and a flexible leaflet which is movable relative to the support structure between an open configuration in which the leaflet permits blood flow through the aperture and a closed configuration in which the leaflet restricts blood flow through the aperture,
wherein the aperture defines an axis and a lateral cross-section taken through the leaflet in a plane lateral to the axis defines an outwardly convex portion, an outwardly concave portion and a junction between the convex and concave portions, wherein the leaflet is attached to the support structure along first and second at least partially straight lines of attachment such that movement of the leaflet between the open and closed configurations results in the convex portion of the lateral cross-section pivoting about one of the first and second lines of attachment and the concave portion of the lateral cross-section pivoting about the other of the first and second lines of attachment, and wherein a length of the convex portion of the lateral cross-section comprises a greater proportion of a total length of the lateral cross-section in the open configuration than in the closed configuration.
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29. An artificial heart valve comprising a support structure defining an aperture for blood flow and a flexible leaflet which is movable relative to the support structure between an open configuration in which the leaflet permits blood flow through the aperture and a closed configuration in which the leaflet restricts blood flow through the aperture,
wherein the leaflet is attached to the support structure along first and second at least partially straight lines of attachment, wherein the leaflet is attached to the support structure along a base line of attachment which is adjacent to the aperture, wherein the leaflet comprises a free edge which extends opposite the base line of attachment and which extends between the first and second lines of attachment, the free edge being movable relative to the support structure, wherein the leaflet defines a co-aptation region which extends from the free edge to a boundary which is located between the free edge and the base line of attachment, the co-aptation region defining a plurality of generally identical lateral cross-sections, wherein the aperture defines an axis, a first lateral cross-section taken through the leaflet in a first plane lateral to the axis defines a single outwardly convex portion and a single outwardly concave portion, and a second lateral cross-section taken through the leaflet in a second plane lateral to the axis defines a single outwardly convex portion and a single outwardly concave portion, wherein the first and second lateral cross-sections are both located axially between the base line of attachment and the boundary of the co-aptation region such that the first lateral cross-section is closer to the base line of attachment that the second lateral cross-section, wherein the convex portion of the first lateral cross-section is longer than the convex portion of the second lateral cross-section and the concave portion of the first lateral cross-section is shorter than the concave portion of the second lateral cross-section, and wherein the leaflet is attached to the support structure along the first and second lines of attachment such that movement of the leaflet between the open and closed configurations results in the convex portions of the first and second lateral cross-sections pivoting about one of the first and second lines of attachment and the concave portions of the first and second later cross-sections pivoting about the other of the first and second lines of attachment.
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30. An artificial heart valve comprising:
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a support structure comprising a generally annular base portion which defines an aperture for blood flow and which further defines a through hole extending through a wall thickness of the base portion; and a leaflet material integrally formed around the support structure so as to define a flexible leaflet which is movable relative to the support structure between an open configuration in which the leaflet permits blood flow through the aperture in a blood flow direction and a closed configuration which the leaflet restricts blood flow through the aperture in a direction opposite to the blood flow direction, wherein, when viewed on a longitudinal cross-section which is generally parallel to an axis defined by the aperture and which passes through the through hole, the leaflet material completely envelops the base portion, the leaflet material extends throng the through hole, and the flexible leaflet extends from the through hole. - View Dependent Claims (31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36)
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37. An artificial heart valve comprising:
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a support structure comprising a generally annular base portion which defines an aperture for blood flow and at least one post portion extending from the base portion, the least one post portion defining a through hole which extends therethrough; and a leaflet material integrally formed around the support structure so as to define a flexible leaflet which is movable relative to the support stricture between an open configuration in which the leaflet permits blood flow through the aperture in a blood flow direction and a closed configuration in which the leaflet restricts blood flow through the aperture in a direction opposite to the blood flow direction, wherein, when viewed on a lateral cross-section which is generally lateral to an axis defined by the aperture and which passes through the through hole, the leaflet material completely envelops the at least one post portion, the leaflet material extends through the through hole, and the flexible leaflet extends from the through hole. - View Dependent Claims (38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43)
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44. An artificial heart valve, comprising:
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a support structure comprising a generally annular base portion which defines an aperture for blood flow and which further defines a through hole extending through a wall thickness of the base portion; and a leaflet material integrally formed around the support structure so as to define a flexible leaflet which is movable relative to the support structure between an open configuration in which the leaflet permits blood flow through the aperture in a direction of blood flow and a closed configuration in which the leaflet restricts blood flow through the aperture in a direction opposite to the direction of blood flow, wherein, when viewed on a longitudinal cross-section which is generally parallel to an axis defined by the aperture and which passes through the through hole, the through hole extends in a direction which is angled between a radially inward direction and the direction of blood flow, the leaflet material completely envelops the base portion, and the leaflet material extends through the through hole.
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45. An artificial heart valve, comprising:
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a support structure comprising a generally annular base portion which defines an aperture for blood flow and which further defines a through hole extending through a wall thickness of the base portion; and a leaflet material integrally formed around the support structure so as to define a flexible leaflet which is movable relative to the support structure between an open configuration in which the leaflet permits blood flow through the aperture in a direction of blood flow and a closed configuration in which the leaflet restricts blood flow through the aperture in a direction opposite to the direction of blood flow, wherein, when viewed on a longitudinal cross-section which is generally parallel to an axis defined by the aperture and which passes through the through hole, the leaflet material completely envelops the base portion, the leaflet material extends through the through hole, and a curvature of a base region of the flexible leaflet adjacent to the through hole is continuous with a curvature of the portion of the leaflet material extending through the through hole.
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46. An artificial heart valve, comprising:
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a support structure comprising a generally annular base portion which defines an aperture for blood flow and at least one post portion extending from the base portion, the at least one post portion defining a through hole which extends therethrough; and a leaflet material integrally formed around the support structure so as to define a flexible leaflet which is movable relative to the support structure between an open configuration in which the leaflet permits blood flow through the aperture in a direction of blood and a closed configuration in which the leaflet restricts blood flow through the aperture in a direction opposite to the direction of blood flow, wherein, when viewed on a lateral cross-section which is generally lateral to an axis defined by the aperture and which passes through the through hole, the through hole extends in a direction which is angled relative to a radially inward direction, the leaflet material completely envelops the at least one post portion, and the leaflet material extends through the through hole.
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47. An artificial heart valve comprising,
a support structure comprising a generally annular base portion which defines an aperture for blood flow and at least one post portion extending from the base portion, the at least one post portion defining a through hole which extends therethrough; - and
a leaflet material integrally formed around the support structure so as to define a flexible leaflet which is movable relative to the support structure between an open configuration in which the leaflet permits blood flow through the aperture in a direction of blood flow and a closed configuration in which the leaflet restricts blood flow through the aperture in a direction opposite to the direction of blood flow, wherein, when viewed on a lateral cross-section which is generally lateral to an axis defined by the aperture and which passes through the through hole, the leaflet material completely envelops the at least one post portion, the leaflet material extends through the through hole, and a curvature of a side region of the flexible leaflet adjacent to the through hole is continuous with a curvature of the portion of the leaflet material extending through the through hole.
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Specification