초록 ▼

A bileaflet heart valve comprising an annular base and pivoting leaflets. Each leaflet is "free-floating" within recesses without fixed rotational axis in order to increase translational movement and redistribute stresses. Each recess fluidly communicates with a groove extending at least partially a

A bileaflet heart valve comprising an annular base and pivoting leaflets. Each leaflet is "free-floating" within recesses without fixed rotational axis in order to increase translational movement and redistribute stresses. Each recess fluidly communicates with a groove extending at least partially around the inner surface of the annular base and fluid flow is directed through the recesses at different angles during antegrade circulation, retrograde circulation, and valve closure. A recess entrance angle to each of the recesses preferably being less than about 35.degree. and the pivoting mechanism within the recess including first and second fulcrum edges of each leaflet shiftably engaged with side surfaces of the respective recesses. The leaflets have a beveled bottom side having two separate planar surfaces which lie at an angle to one another. In preferred embodiments, an upper planar surface of the bottom surface of each leaflet lies at an angle of greater than ninety (90) degrees with respect to a horizontal passing through a section of the annular base when the leaflet is in a fully open position.

대표청구항 ▼

[ What is claimed is:] [1.] A bileaflet heart valve prosthesis for controlling a circulation of a fluid within a heart of a patient, said bileaflet heart valve prosthesis comprising: an annular base and first and second leaflets, the first leaflet and the second leaflet being mounted within the annu

[ What is claimed is:] [1.] A bileaflet heart valve prosthesis for controlling a circulation of a fluid within a heart of a patient, said bileaflet heart valve prosthesis comprising: an annular base and first and second leaflets, the first leaflet and the second leaflet being mounted within the annular base for pivotal movement between a fully closed position and a fully open position, the annular base defining a vertical bore extending through the base; each of the respective leaflets having first and second sides, the first side being a top side and the second side being a bottom side, the bottom sides of the respective leaflets generally facing one another when the respective leaflets are in an open position; each bottom side having an upper half and a lower half, a major portion of the upper half providing an upper surface lying generally in a first plane and a lower half providing a lower surface lying generally in a second plane, the first plane lying at an angle to the second plane; a third plane passing through a horizontal cross-section of the annular base, the first and second planes lying at angles to the third plane when the leaflets are in either the open or closed positions; wherein the first plane of each of the respective leaflets extends beyond an angle of 90 with respect to the third plane when the leaflets go from the fully closed position to the fully open position, the annular base having a first lateral side having a first lateral surface, a second lateral side having a second lateral surface, and a pair of transverse sides individually disposed between the first and second lateral sides, the annular base defining a first recess extending radially outward into the annular base from and communicating with the bore, and a second recess extending radially outward into the annular base from and communicating with the bore, the first recess being disposed within the first lateral side, the second recess being disposed within the second lateral side, wherein at least a first side portion of the first leaflet is received within the first recess and at least a second side portion of the first leaflet is received within said second recess to retain the first leaflet within the annular base, wherein the annular base further defines third and fourth recesses extending radially outward into the annular base from and communicating with the bore, the third recess being disposed within the first lateral side and the fourth recess being disposed within the second lateral side, wherein at least a third side portion of the second leaflet is received within the third recess and at least a fourth side portion of the second leaflet is received with the fourth recess to retain the second leaflet within the annular base; the first, second, third and fourth side portions of the respective leaflets each having a plurality of recess engagement surfaces, two of the plurality of recess engagement surfaces meeting to form a first fulcrum edge and two of the plurality of recess engagement surfaces meeting to form a second fulcrum edge removed from the first fulcrum edge, each of the recesses having an upper and lower recess side surface, wherein each of the respective first and second fulcrum edges engage an upper or lower recess side surface of the recess in which the respective side portion is engaged when the respective leaflet pivots either from the fully open position to the fully closed position or from the fully closed position to the fully open position such that engagement between one of the respective fulcrum edges and the respective side surface of each of the respective recesses is changeable from engagement with a side surface by the first fulcrum edge to engagement with a side surface by the second fulcrum edge as the respective leaflet pivots from one position to the other.