Patent · US Expired

Flexible heart valve

US7179290B2 · kind B2 · utility

38Cited by
38References
18Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventor

Key dates

Filing dateOct 28, 2004
Grant dateFeb 20, 2007
Priority date
Expiry dateAug 5, 2025

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC A)Human Necessities
  • CPC primaryA61F2220/0075
  • WIPO fieldMedical technology
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

A flexible prosthetic tissue-type heart valve having commissures that are substantially decoupled from a cusp support structure. The valve includes three leaflets having arcuate cusp edges and opposed concave shaped free edges, with outwardly-directed attachment tabs therebetween. A cusp support structure in either one or more pieces attaches to the leaflet cusp edges. Three commissures are each formed partly with an axially-extending insert member to which two adjacent leaflet tabs attach. An inverted V-shaped clip maintains close contact between the adjacent leaflet tabs and provides a stress-relieving clamping action in conjunction with the insert member. The insert member attaches about its lower end to base sections of the cusp support structure, or to an intermediate sewing ring, so that the commissures may pivot about the cusp support structure.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.