Artificial heart valve

US4291420A · kind A · utility

Assignee

• Medac Gesellschaft Für Klinische Spezialpraparate MBH · DE

Inventor

• Helmut Reul · St. Blasien, DE

Key dates

• Filing date: Jun 13, 1980
• Grant date: Sep 29, 1981
• Expiry date: Jun 13, 2000

Classification

• Technology area (CPC Y): Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
• CPC primary: Y10T137/7889
• WIPO field: Medical technology
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

An artificial, triple-lobed semilunar valve is disclosed for replacing the aortic or pulmonary valve in the heart. The valve includes a flexible suture ring which conforms to the shape of the aortic root and three flexible pockets which are mounted within the suture ring. When fluid flows through the suture ring in one direction, the pockets bend outwards to the vessel wall and lie free-floating in the fluid, thereby permitting fluid to flow through the valve. However, when the fluid begins to flow in the opposite direction, the pockets open and contact one another to close the valve thereby preventing fluid flow in the opposite direction.