Heart valve prosthesis

Abstract

Abstract The valve has a base 10 including a blood passageway 13, means 11, 12 for regulating the flow of blood through the passageway and pivot means for maintaining the regulating means 11, 12, in operative relation to the passageway while allowing the regulating means to pivot, under the influence of the blood flow in the passageway 13, between open and closed positions. The pivot means comprises a recess 21 in the base 10, the recess having a bearing surface 28 formed as a surface of revolution; and means 31 projecting from the regulating means 11, 12 into the recess, a portion of the projecting means engaging the bearing surface and being configured to wipe the bearing surface on movement of the regulating means 11, 12 between the open and closed positions. In this manner, the tendency of blood to stagnate in the pivot means is reduced. <IMAGE>

Inventors

No inventors recorded.

Bibliographic Details