초록 ▼

Heart valves having valve members which are guided between their open and closed positions by projections extending inward from the annular body and interengaging with complementary notches in the peripheries of the occluders. Protuberances associated with the projections cooperate to define the piv

Heart valves having valve members which are guided between their open and closed positions by projections extending inward from the annular body and interengaging with complementary notches in the peripheries of the occluders. Protuberances associated with the projections cooperate to define the pivotal axes, serve as open and closed position stops, and retain the valve members within the valve body.

대표청구항 ▼

A heart valve prosthesis for allowing blood flow therethrough in a specific direction including a generally annular valve body having an interior surface defining a central passageway for blood flow therethrough, occluder means for blocking the flow of blood through said passageway, said occluder me

A heart valve prosthesis for allowing blood flow therethrough in a specific direction including a generally annular valve body having an interior surface defining a central passageway for blood flow therethrough, occluder means for blocking the flow of blood through said passageway, said occluder means having an upstream face and a downstream face, notches extending through said occluder means between said upstream face and said downstream face and being formed in opposite locations in the periphery of said occluder means, complementary projections which are elongated generally in a direction between upstream and downstream and of a length substantially greater than the thickness of said occluder means at said notch, which extend generally radially inward from said interior surface into said passageway and which are proportioned to interfit within said notches, said projections being exposed to free flow of blood and having opposite elongated surfaces that are alternately mechanically contacted by edges of said notches during alternate opening and closing movement, the shape of said projections being such to guide said occluder means along a path during shifting between open and closed positions that creates both pivotal and translational movement, first means in said annular valve body for engaging said upstream face of said occluder means and providing a stop in the closed position, and second means in said annular valve body for engaging said downstream face of said occluder means and providing a stop in the open position.