Replacement heart valves and their methods of use and manufacture
First Claim
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1. A method of manufacturing a prosthetic heart valve, comprising:
- molding or casting only three artificial leaflets onto a support structure having a central axis oriented in a blood flow direction through an interior of the support structure,wherein each leaflet has a movable part with a base along the support structure and a free edge allowed to move independent of the support structure, the movable part of each leaflet also having a central axis extending between the base and the free edge,wherein the movable part of each leaflet is movable between a first position, for preventing the flow of blood through an interior of the support structure, and a second position, for allowing the flow of blood through the interior of the support structure,wherein the base of the movable part of each leaflet is the boundary where the movable part of the leaflet contacts the support structure,wherein the support structure is substantially cylindrical where the base of the movable part of each leaflet meets the support structure, andwherein, for each leaflet, a profile of the base of the movable part of the leaflet is at least partially convex when viewed from an exterior side view of the support structure normal to a plane formed by the central axis of the support structure and the central axis of the movable part of the leaflet when in the first position.
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Abstract
A prosthetic valve has a support structure that meets with a plurality of leaflets capable of transitioning between open and closed states. The support structure can include a base frame with a polymer coating and the leaflets can be artificial. The interface between the support structure and each leaflet can be at least partially convex when viewed from an exterior of the support structure along a normal to a plane formed by a central axis of the support structure and a central axis of the leaflet.
89 Citations
15 Claims
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1. A method of manufacturing a prosthetic heart valve, comprising:
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molding or casting only three artificial leaflets onto a support structure having a central axis oriented in a blood flow direction through an interior of the support structure, wherein each leaflet has a movable part with a base along the support structure and a free edge allowed to move independent of the support structure, the movable part of each leaflet also having a central axis extending between the base and the free edge, wherein the movable part of each leaflet is movable between a first position, for preventing the flow of blood through an interior of the support structure, and a second position, for allowing the flow of blood through the interior of the support structure, wherein the base of the movable part of each leaflet is the boundary where the movable part of the leaflet contacts the support structure, wherein the support structure is substantially cylindrical where the base of the movable part of each leaflet meets the support structure, and wherein, for each leaflet, a profile of the base of the movable part of the leaflet is at least partially convex when viewed from an exterior side view of the support structure normal to a plane formed by the central axis of the support structure and the central axis of the movable part of the leaflet when in the first position. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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Specification