Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
275 words
A heart valve for controlling the flow of blood in the heart comprising: a base having an inner peripheral surface defining an opening through the base, said surface including an upwardly and outwardly directed annular seat, a generally toroidal-shaped valve element freely movable to an open position and a closed position relative to said opening in the base to control the flow of blood in one direction through the valve, said valve element having an inner peripheral surface defining an opening through the valve element and an outer annular peripheral surface, a center member having a continuous outer wall, said wall having a longitudinal axis coincident with the axis of the opening in the base, said outer annular peripheral surface of the valve element being in engagement with said annular seat and said continuous outer wall located adjacent said inner peripheral surface of the valve element whereby the valve element is in the closed position to restrict the flow of blood in one direction through the opening in the base, said outer wall of the center member and inner peripheral surface of the valve element being spaced from each other to permit restricted reverse flow of blood when the valve element is in the closed position, said valve element inner and outer peripheral surfaces being spaced from the center member and base, respectively, when the valve element is in open position, support means secured to the center member for fixing the location of the center member relative to the base, and open cage means secured to the base for limiting free floating movement of the valve element away from the base to the open position.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
275 words
A heart valve for controlling the flow of blood in the heart comprising: a base having an inner peripheral surface defining an opening through the base, said surface including an upwardly and outwardly directed annular seat, a generally toroidal-shaped valve element freely movable to an open position and a closed position relative to said opening in the base to control the flow of blood in one direction through the valve, said valve element having an inner peripheral surface defining an opening through the valve element and an outer annular peripheral surface, a center member having a continuous outer wall, said wall having a longitudinal axis coincident with the axis of the opening in the base, said outer annular peripheral surface of the valve element being in engagement with said annular seat and said continuous outer wall located adjacent said inner peripheral surface of the valve element whereby the valve element is in the closed position to restrict the flow of blood in one direction through the opening in the base, said outer wall of the center member and inner peripheral surface of the valve element being spaced from each other to permit restricted reverse flow of blood when the valve element is in the closed position, said valve element inner and outer peripheral surfaces being spaced from the center member and base, respectively, when the valve element is in open position, support means secured to the center member for fixing the location of the center member relative to the base, and open cage means secured to the base for limiting free floating movement of the valve element away from the base to the open position.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
33 words
The heart valve of claim 1 wherein said cage means includes circumferentially spaced upright legs having inwardly directed ends spaced from the base engageable with the valve element when in the open position.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
20 words
The heart valve of claim 1 wherein the top portion of the center member has a general inverted cone shape.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
22 words
A heart valve defined in claim 1 wherein said base is an annular member having at least one outwardly open peripheral groove.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
26 words
The heart valve defined in claim 1 wherein said support means comprises at least one generally radial leg secured to the base and the center member.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
29 words
The heart valve defined in claim 5 wherein said one leg extends from the base to the center member and is located generally within the opening in the base.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
19 words
The heart valve defined in claim 1 wherein said center member has opposite ends of substantially the same shape.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
23 words
The heart valve defined in claim 1 wherein said center member has a generally semispherical-shaped bottom end and a generally cone-shaped top end.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
246 words
A heart valve for controlling the flow of blood in the heart comprising: a base having an inner peripheral surface defining an opening through the base, a generally toroidal-shaped valve element freely movable to an open position and a closed position relative to said opening in the base to control the flow of blood in one direction through the valve, said valve element having an inner peripheral surface defining an opening through the valve element and an outer peripheral surface, a center member having a continuous outer wall surface, said wall surface having a longitudinal axis coincident with the axis of the opening in the base, said outer peripheral surface of the valve element cooperating with the inner peripheral surface of the base and said continuous outer wall surface cooperating with said inner peripheral surface of the valve element, at least one of said cooperating surfaces being spaced from each other whereby the valve elemenT is in the closed position to restrict the flow of blood in one direction through the opening in the base, said valve element inner and outer peripheral surfaces being axially spaced from the center member and base, respectively, when the valve element is in the open position, support means secured to the center member for fixing the location of the center member relative to the base, and open cage means secured to the base for limiting free floating movement of the valve element away from the base to the open position.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
246 words
A heart valve for controlling the flow of blood in the heart comprising: a base having an inner peripheral surface defining an opening through the base, a generally toroidal-shaped valve element freely movable to an open position and a closed position relative to said opening in the base to control the flow of blood in one direction through the valve, said valve element having an inner peripheral surface defining an opening through the valve element and an outer peripheral surface, a center member having a continuous outer wall surface, said wall surface having a longitudinal axis coincident with the axis of the opening in the base, said outer peripheral surface of the valve element cooperating with the inner peripheral surface of the base and said continuous outer wall surface cooperating with said inner peripheral surface of the valve element, at least one of said cooperating surfaces being spaced from each other whereby the valve elemenT is in the closed position to restrict the flow of blood in one direction through the opening in the base, said valve element inner and outer peripheral surfaces being axially spaced from the center member and base, respectively, when the valve element is in the open position, support means secured to the center member for fixing the location of the center member relative to the base, and open cage means secured to the base for limiting free floating movement of the valve element away from the base to the open position.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
44 words
The heart valve of claim 9 wherein each of said cooperating surfaces on the valve element, base and center member are spaced from each other to permit restricted reverse flow of blood through the opening when the valve element is in the closed position.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
20 words
The heart valve of claim 9 wherein the valve element engages the support means when located in the closed position.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
19 words
The heart valve defined in claim 9 wherein said center member has opposite ends of substantially the same shape.