One-way valve device suitable for use as a heart valve

Claim 1

A ONE-WAY VALVE DEVICE COMPRISING A BASE MEMBER PROVIDED WITH AN OPENING THEREIN AND A SWINGABLE VALVE PLATE HAVING A SIZE SLIGHTLY LARGER THAN SAID OPENING OF SAID BASE MEMBER SO AS TO PERMIT SAID VALVE PLATE TO COMPLETELY COVER SAID OPENING IN CLOSE CONTACT THEREWITH, SAID BASE MEMBER PROVIDED WITH A CUTOUT ON EACH SIDE OF THE PERIPHERY OF SAID OPENING AT POSITIONS OPPOSITE WITH RESPECT TO A CENTER LINE OF SAID OPENING OF SAID BASE MEMBER AND SPACED APART FROM THE LINE PASSING THE CENTER OF AREA OF SAID OPENING AT RIGHT ANGLE TO SAID CENTER LINE, SAID VALVE PLATE ALOS PROVIDED WITH CORRESPONDING CUTOUTS ON THE PERIPHERY THEREOF SO THAT SAID CUTOUTS OF SAID VALVE PLATE ARE ENGAGED WITH SAID CUTOUTS OF SAID BASE MEMBER, RESPECTIVELY, WHEN SAID VALVE PLATE IS PLACED IN ALIGNMENT WITH SAID BASE MEMBER THEREBY PERMITTING SAID VALVE PLATE TO BE SWUNG WITH RESPECT TO SAID BASE MEMBER ABOUT AN AXIS DEFINED BY THE ENGAGEMENT OF SAID CUTOUTS SO AS TO OPEN AND CLOSE SAID OPENING, AT LEAST ONE OF SAID BASE MEMBER AND SWINGABLE VALVE PROVIDED WITH STEPPED PORTIONS AT LEAST IN THE REGIONS OF SAID CUTOUTS TO PROVIDE STEPPED LOCATION OF THE EDGES OF SAID CUTOUTS SO THAT SAID VALVE PLATE CAN COMPLETELY COVER THE OPPOSING PERIPHERAL SURFACE OF THE OPENING OF S AID BASE MEMBER WHEN SAID VALVE PLATE IS IN ITS CLOSED POSITION.