초록 ▼

A prosthetic heart valve comprising a tubular valve body and a pair of leaflets which pivot, or translate and pivot, between open and closed positions. The valve body is of circular interior cross-section except for a pair of diametrically opposed flat wall sections which contain recesses within whi

A prosthetic heart valve comprising a tubular valve body and a pair of leaflets which pivot, or translate and pivot, between open and closed positions. The valve body is of circular interior cross-section except for a pair of diametrically opposed flat wall sections which contain recesses within which the pivot axes of the leaflets are located. Arcuate edges of the leaflets are irregularly shaped so that a pair of protrusions extend radially outward from an otherwise generally semicircular periphery. The protrusions are strategically located so as to contact the interior surface of the valve body in the closed position at arcuately spaced apart locations which flank the centerline of the leaflet. As a result, contact in the closed position occurs at two spaced apart locations rather than at a single location, and at least a minimum gap is established at the central tip of the leaflet which counteracts potential cavitation, noise and hemolysis.

대표청구항 ▼

[ What is claimed is:] [15.] A prosthetic heart valve which comprisesa tubular valve body having an interior wall surface of generally circular cylindrical cross-section,at least one occluder mounted within said valve body so as to alternately open to permit blood flow downstream through said valve

[ What is claimed is:] [15.] A prosthetic heart valve which comprisesa tubular valve body having an interior wall surface of generally circular cylindrical cross-section,at least one occluder mounted within said valve body so as to alternately open to permit blood flow downstream through said valve body and to pivot closed to prevent blood flow therethrough,said occluder having a major arcuate edge a central tip portion thereof lies at a point of greatest extension from an axis on which said pivoting to said closed position occurs, said arcuate edge lying in juxtaposition with said generally circular cylindrical cross-section interior wall of said valve body in said closed position, andsaid arcuate edge of said occluder being rectilinear and said interior generally circular cylindrical wall surface lying in juxtaposition with said arcuate edge being an uninterrupted rectilinear surface, with said arcuate edge and said rectilinear wall surface being shaped so that (a) said arcuate edge is spaced from said interior wall surface at said central tip portion, and (b) there is generally line contact between said arcuate edge and said interior wall surface at two spaced apart locations each between about 20.degree. and about 60.degree. of arc in opposite directions from said central tip portion.