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CA1232407A Expired / Lapsed CA ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Bubble heart valve

Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1983-06-23
•
Granted: 1988-02-09
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Expires: 2003-06-23
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Abstract

Abstract ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A novel bileaflet mitral heart valve is provided herein, which. in two alternative embodiments, may have symmetrical leaflets or asymmetrical leaflets. The valve has a stent including a circular base and a pair of upstanding struts separating a pair of arcuately-shaped, depressed, reliefs, each such relief being bounded by a smooth curve interconnecting the struts to the circular base. A flexible, durable, bicompatible covering. e.g. a pericardial covering, is secured to the stents and provides two opposed moulded, flexible. flappably-movable valve leaflets secured along the smooth curve defining the upper perimeter of the reliefs. These valve leaflets each are preformed and moulded so that the free margin of the biocompatible leaflets along the free edge of each of the leaflets between the tips of the struts is related to the circumference of the circular base such that, when the valve is in the open position, the cross-sectional area is substantially equal to the inside cross-sectional area of the circular base, and when the valve is in its relaxed and natural closed position, the free edges of the leaflets drop down and sealingly meet in substantially wrinkle-free form at a curve of apposition, preferably in the plane defined by the tip of the struts and the axis of the valve. to provide symmetrical leaflets, and, in one embodiment. may follow the approximate shape of a catenary curve. The shape of the leaflets in that closed position approximates Abstract of the Disclosure (continued) that of a surface formed by two coapting bubbles under pressure. That shape is defined by five simultaneous equations as disclosed herein. The two leaflets may thus approach the configuration of the natural human mitral valve.

Inventors

  • 👤 David K. Walker
  • 👤 Richard T. Brownlee
  • 👤 Denton E. Hewgill
  • 👤 Lawrence N. Scotten
  • 👤 Roberto J. Racca

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction CA
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-10-22 23:03
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61F; A61F2/00; A61F2/02; A61F2/24; A61F2/2412; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S623/00; Y10S623/90

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 32
Claim 1
Independent Claim 275 words
A mitral heart valve comprising: a stent including a circular base and a pair of upstanding struts separating a pair of arcuately-shaped, depressed, reliefs, each said relief being bounded by a smooth curve interconnecting said struts to said circular base; a flexible, durable, biocompatible covering secured to said stents and providing two opposed, moulded, flexible, flappably-movable valve leaflets secured along the smooth curve defining the upper perimeter of the reliefs; the valve leaflets each being preformed and moulded so that the free margin of said biocompatible leaflets along the free edge of each of said leaflets between the tips of said struts is related to the circumference of said circular base such that, when said valve is in its open position, the cross-sectional area is substantially equal to the cross-sectional area of the inside of said circular base, and when said valve is in its relaxed and natural position, the free edges of said leaflets drop down and sealingly meet in substantially wrinkle-free form at a curve of apposition, the shape of said leaflets in that closed position approximating that of a surface formed by two coapting bubbles under pressure, the shape of said surface formed by said two coapting bubbles under pressure being defined by the following five simultaneous equations: (1) (2) (3) 3uy2 - 1 + ux2 at x - 0. (4) u(x,y) - x sin.alpha. x,y ? D. (5) wherein .alpha. is the angle between the plane containing the stent bounding and the x-y plane; and D is an ellipse having a short side "a" and a long side "b" formed as a projection of the stent bounding in the x-y plane.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 275 words
A mitral heart valve comprising: a stent including a circular base and a pair of upstanding struts separating a pair of arcuately-shaped, depressed, reliefs, each said relief being bounded by a smooth curve interconnecting said struts to said circular base; a flexible, durable, biocompatible covering secured to said stents and providing two opposed, moulded, flexible, flappably-movable valve leaflets secured along the smooth curve defining the upper perimeter of the reliefs; the valve leaflets each being preformed and moulded so that the free margin of said biocompatible leaflets along the free edge of each of said leaflets between the tips of said struts is related to the circumference of said circular base such that, when said valve is in its open position, the cross-sectional area is substantially equal to the cross-sectional area of the inside of said circular base, and when said valve is in its relaxed and natural position, the free edges of said leaflets drop down and sealingly meet in substantially wrinkle-free form at a curve of apposition, the shape of said leaflets in that closed position approximating that of a surface formed by two coapting bubbles under pressure, the shape of said surface formed by said two coapting bubbles under pressure being defined by the following five simultaneous equations: (1) (2) (3) 3uy2 - 1 + ux2 at x - 0. (4) u(x,y) - x sin.alpha. x,y ? D. (5) wherein .alpha. is the angle between the plane containing the stent bounding and the x-y plane; and D is an ellipse having a short side "a" and a long side "b" formed as a projection of the stent bounding in the x-y plane.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 29 words
The mitral heart valve of claim 1 wherein said curve of apposition is in the plane defined by the tip of said struts and the axis of said valve.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 21 words
The mitral heart valve of claim 1 wherein said valve leaflets comprise two equal, identical, opposed, moulded, flexible, flappably-movable valve leaflets.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 21 words
The mitral heart valve of claim 2 wherein said valve leaflets comprise two equal, identical, opposed, moulded, flexible, flappably-movable valve leaflets.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 20 words
The mitral heart valve of claim 1 wherein said valve leaflets comprise two unequal, opposed, moulded, flexible, flappably-movable valve leaflets.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 21 words
The mitral heart valve of claim 2 wherein said valve leaflets comprise two equal, identical, opposed, moulded, flexible, flappably-movable valve leaflets.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 28 words
The mitral heart valve of claims 1, 2 or 3 wherein the free edges of said leaflets meet at a curve which follows the shape of a catenary.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 28 words
The mitral heart valve of claims 4, 5 or 6 wherein the free edges of said leaflets meet at a curve which follows the shape of a catenary.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 71 words
The mitral heart valve of claims 1, 2 or 3 wherein the shape of said bubble surfaces is computed from the solution of said five equations by discretizing said equations and solving by a numerical technique by dividing the ellipse into four pieces, forming a grid on half of D, discretizing the partial derivatives of second order finite difference approximations and solving the resulting non-linear algebraic equations by successive non-linear overrelaxation.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 71 words
The mitral heart valve of claims 4, 5 or 6 wherein the shape of said bubble surfaces is computed from the solution of said five equations by discretizing said equations and solving by a numerical technique by dividing the ellipse into four pieces, forming a grid on half of D, discretizing the partial derivatives of second order finite difference approximations and solving the resulting non-linear algebraic equations by successive non-linear overrelaxation.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 16 words
The mitral heart valve of claims 1, 2 or 3 wherein said struts are substantially identical.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim 16 words
The mitral heart valve of claims 4, 5 or 6 wherein said struts are substantially identical.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim 18 words
The mitral heart valve of claims 1 or 2 wherein said reliefs are symmetrically-disposed equidistant from said struts.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim 19 words
The mitral heart valve of claims 3, 4 or 6 wherein said reliefs are symmetrically-disposed equidistant from said struts.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim 19 words
The mitral heart valve of claims 1 or 2 wherein said reliefs are asymmetrically-disposed with respect to said struts.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim 19 words
The mitral heart valve of claims 5 or 6 wherein said reliefs are asymmetrically-disposed with respect to said struts.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim 29 words
The mitral heart valve of claim 4, 5 or 6 wherein said struts lie within the surface of a cone having the circular stent base as the conic base.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim 40 words
The mitral heart valve of claims 1, 2 or 3 wherein said struts lie within the surface of a cone having the circular stent base as the conic base; and wherein said smooth curve interconnecting said struts is a parabola.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim 40 words
The mitral heart valve of claims 4, 5 or 6 wherein said struts lie within the surface of a cone having the circular stent base as the conic base; and wherein said smooth curve interconnecting said struts is a parabola.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim 24 words
The mitral heart valve of claim 4 wherein said stent is formed of a flexible, elastically-deformable material, so that said struts may flex slightly.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim 24 words
The mitral heart valve of claim 6 wherein said stent is formed of a flexible, elastically-deformable material, so that said struts may flex slightly.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim 21 words
The mitral heart valve of claims 1, 2 or 3 wherein said valve leaflets are formed of pericardium treated with glutaraldehyde.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim 21 words
The mitral heart valve of claims 4, 5 or 6 wherein said valve leaflets are formed of pericardium treated with glutaraldehyde.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim 34 words
The valve of claims 1, 2 or 3 wherein said valve leaflets are formed of pericardium treated with glutaraldehyde; and wherein said leaflets are secured to each other and to said struts by sutures.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim 34 words
The valve of claims 4, 5 or 6 wherein said valve leaflets are formed of pericardium treated with glutaraldehyde; and wherein said leaflets are secured to each other and to said struts by sutures.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim 29 words
The mitral heart valve of claims 1, 2 or 3 wherein said valve leaflets are formed of bovine, porcine or human fascia lata or dura mater, or of polyurethane.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim 29 words
The mitral heart valve of claims 4, 5 or 6 wherein said valve leaflets are formed of bovine, porcine or human fascia lata or dura mater, or of polyurethane.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim 19 words
The mitral heart valve of claims 1, 2 or 3 wherein said material is polypropylene or an acetal copolymer.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim 19 words
The mitral heart valve of claims 4, 5 or 6 wherein said material is polypropylene or an acetal copolymer.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim 18 words
The mitral heart valve of claims 1, 2 or 3 wherein said stent covering is a pericardial covering.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim 18 words
The mitral heart valve of claims 4, 5 or 6 wherein said stent covering is a pericardial covering.

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