Heart valve leaflet with reinforced free margin
US6174331A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jul 19, 1999 |
| Grant date | Jan 16, 2001 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jul 19, 2019 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY10S623/901
- WIPO fieldMedical technology
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A flexible leaflet heart valve includes a base, a peripheral portion and a plurality of leaflets. Each leaflet includes a scalloped free margin having opposite ends and a mid-portion between the opposite ends. The opposite ends are attached to the peripheral portion of the valve at a first height above the base. The mid-portion of each free margin is positioned at a second height above the base, less than the first height. Each free margin is adjacent each other free margin to form a gap therebetween. Each leaflet is of a first thickness and at least a portion of each free margin is of a second thickness, greater than the first thickness. This may include extending the second thickness along the entire free margin between the opposite ends or extending the second thickness only along the mid-portion of the free margin.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.