초록 ▼

Bileaflet heart valves are illustrated which employ a pair of leaflets having flat inflow and outflow surfaces that are nonparallel to each other with the downstream arcuate edges being thinner than the mating upstream edges. The pivot mechanisms are constructed so that the leaflet inflow surfaces c

Bileaflet heart valves are illustrated which employ a pair of leaflets having flat inflow and outflow surfaces that are nonparallel to each other with the downstream arcuate edges being thinner than the mating upstream edges. The pivot mechanisms are constructed so that the leaflet inflow surfaces can be oriented parallel to the centerline through the valve body in the full open position, with the offset outflow surfaces constituting a diffuser section which provides for pressure recovery and reduces overall pressure drop through the valve. The pivot structures are preferably generally ellipsoidal in shape, with the long axis of the ellipsoid being aligned generally in an upstream-downstream direction. This feature together with the offset outflow surfaces of the leaflets promotes prompt closing of the valve. Optionally, upstream and downstream stops which protrude radially inward from the three-dimensional surfaces of the pivot structures can be offset with respect to the centers of the ellipsoidal structures to further promote prompt closing.

대표청구항 ▼

[ What is claimed is:] [3.] A prosthetic heart valve for controlling blood flow in association with a chamber of the human heart, which valve comprises:an annular valve body of generally circular interior cross-section except for a pair of flat, parallel diametrically opposed sidewalls, which valve

[ What is claimed is:] [3.] A prosthetic heart valve for controlling blood flow in association with a chamber of the human heart, which valve comprises:an annular valve body of generally circular interior cross-section except for a pair of flat, parallel diametrically opposed sidewalls, which valve body provides a passageway about a centerline for blood flow from upstream to downstream therethrough,convex pivot means protruding into said flow passageway from each of said flat sidewalls, andtwo leaflets designed to rotate about said pivot means so as to allow downstream blood flow when in an open position and to prevent any substantial upstream blood flow when in a closed position,said leaflets having upstream, downstream and lateral edges and having opposite inflow and outflow major surfaces, with said inflow surfaces facing upstream in the closed position, and said leaflets also having notch means along each of said lateral edges for interengaging with said pivot means,said pivot means comprising two convex pivots protruding from each of said flat sidewalls, said convex pivots being arranged in pairs and with each said pair of pivots respectively interengaging with said notch means in said lateral edges of one of said leaflets, and said convex pivots each having a surface of three-dimensional curvature,each of said convex pivots having first and second stops associated therewith which extend from said convex surface into said flow passageway,each said first stop having wall means that is located to lie in juxtaposition to a region of said inflow surface of one said leaflet, at a location adjacent said notch means, when said leaflet is in the closed position, and each said second stop having wall means that is located to lie in juxtaposition with a region of said outflow surface of said one leaflet when said leaflet is in the open position, andsaid stops being located nonsymmetrically relative to a center of said three-dimensionally curved surface of said convex pivot so that said leaflets rotate about axes which are so offset from said center of said three-dimensionally curved surface that, during closing movement of said leaflets, said notch means thereof are sliding along sections of said three-dimensionally curved surface having a slope of increasing angular degree in the direction of closing rotation.