ARTIFICIAL VALVE LEAFLET

• US 20140058503A1
• Filed: 10/31/2013
• Published: 02/27/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 07/06/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Waseda University (Waseda University Educational Association)
• Original Assignee: Waseda University (Waseda University Educational Association)
• Inventors: Umezu, Mitsuo, Kasegawa, Hitoshi
• Granted Patent: US 9,474,602 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 623/2.15
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/32 Surgical cutting instruments A61B18/042 takes precedence; suture cutters A61B17/0467; instruments for ligaturing or cutting A61B17/128; instruments for rupturing the amniotic membrane A61B17/4208; specially adapted knives for eye surgery A61F9/0133
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/2412 with soft flexible valve members, e.g. tissue valves shaped like natural valves check valves with flexible valve members in general F16K15/14
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/2415 Manufacturing methods
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2240/005 Templates
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2250/0082 specially designed for children, e.g. having means for adjusting to their growth

Abstract

An artificial mitral valve has a ring, an anterior cusp-side region, a posterior cusp-side region and a valve leaflet connected along an outer edge of the ring. The valve leaflet includes an anterior cusp forming member connected to the anterior cusp-side region and a posterior cusp forming member connected to the posterior cusp-side region. The anterior cusp forming member is provided with has an upper edge joined to the ring and a lower edge that forms a bifurcated portion. The upper edge is made up of a pair of right and left edges that incline inward and upward from the right and left sides, and a curved edge interposed between the inclined edges that curves along the anterior cusp-side region. The posterior cusp forming member has an upper edge joined to the ring and a lower edge that forms a bifurcated portion.

Claims

1. An artificial valve leaflet implanted into the heart and functioning as an artificial valve, comprising an anterior cusp forming member and a posterior cusp forming member,

wherein the anterior cusp forming member comprises an upper edge which is sewn to a valve annulus of the heart, and a lower edge which is connected to the upper edge and which forms a bifurcated portion which is open downward,

wherein the upper edge of the anterior cusp forming member comprises a pair of right and left inclined edges inclined inward and upward from right and left ends, and a curved edge which is interposed between the pair of right and left inclined edges and which has a curved shape, and

wherein the posterior cusp forming member comprises an upper edge which is sewn to the valve annulus of the heart, and a lower edge which is connected to the upper edge and which forms a bifurcated portion which is open downward.

2. The artificial valve leaflet according to claim 1,

wherein the bifurcated portion of the anterior cusp forming member is separate and unattached from the bifurcated portion of the posterior cusp forming member, and thus the bifurcated portions are adapted to be sewn onto heart tissues.

3. A template for forming the artificial valve leaflet according to claim 1, comprising:

an anterior cusp hole comprising an inner edge portion corresponding to an outside shape of the anterior cusp forming member; and

a posterior cusp hole comprising an inner edge portion corresponding to an outside shape of the posterior cusp forming member.

4. A cutter for forming the artificial valve leaflet according to claim 1, comprising a blade portion comprising a shape corresponding to the outside shape of the anterior cusp forming member and/or the outside shape of the posterior cusp forming member.

5. A method for implanting an artificial valve leaflet that functions as an artificial valve into the heart, the method comprising:

sewing an upper edge of an anterior cusp member of the artificial valve leaflet to a valve annulus of the heart, a lower edge of the anterior cusp member being connected to the upper edge and forming a bifurcated portion which is open downward,

sewing an upper edge of a posterior cusp forming member of the artificial valve leaflet to the valve annulus of the heart, a lower edge of the posterior cusp forming member being connected to the upper edge and forming a bifurcated portion which is open downward,

sewing the bifurcated portion of the anterior cusp member to a first heart tissue, and

sewing the bifurcated portion of the posterior cusp member to a second heart tissue.

6. The method for implanting an artificial valve leaflet according to claim 5,

wherein the upper edge of the anterior cusp forming member comprises a pair of right and left inclined edges inclined inward and upward from right and left ends, and a curved edge which is interposed between the pair of right and left inclined edges and which has a curved shape.

7. The method for implanting an artificial valve leaflet according to claim 5,

wherein the bifurcated portion of the anterior cusp forming member is separate and unattached from the bifurcated portion of the posterior cusp forming member.