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US4178639A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Two-leaflet heart valve

Assignee: Carbomedics Inc
•
Filing: 1978-04-06
•
Granted: 1979-12-18
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Expires: 1998-04-06
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Abstract

Abstract A heart valve prosthesis has an annular valve body with a central circular passageway and a pair of valve leaflets supported for pivotal movement between closed and open positions. Guides formed with spheroidal surfaces project in opposite directions along the pivotal axis of each leaflet and are received in spheroidal depressions in a pair of upstanding, diametrically opposite supports. The supports are formed with stops outside of the depressions which contact the distal surface of the leaflets at a region apart from the spheroidal guides and determine the open position.

Inventors

  • 👤 Jack C. Bokros

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-10-22 20:14
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61F; A61F2/00; A61F2/02; A61F2/24; A61F2/2403; F; F16; F16K; F16K15/00; F16K15/02; F16K15/03; F16K15/035; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T137/00; Y10T137/7722; Y10T137/7837; Y10T137/7838; Y10T137/7839; Y10T137/7898; Y10T137/7903

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim 153 words
A heart valve prosthesis including an annular valve body having a central passageway extending therethrough, a pair of valve leaflets, means supporting said pair of leaflets for substantially pivotal movement between a closed position blocking blood flow through said central passageway and an open position allowing blood flow therethrough, and stop means limiting movement of said leaflets between said open and closed positions, wherein the improvement comprises said leaflets each having a pair of guides projecting in opposite directions along the pivotal axis of the leaflet which are formed with spheroidal surfaces, said annular body having a pair of upstanding supports at generally diametrically opposite locations thereon, which supports contain spheroidal depression means proportioned to receive said spheroidal guides, and wherein said supports are formed with stops outside of said depressions which contact the distal surface of said leaflets at a region apart from said spheroidal guides and determine the open position thereof.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 153 words
A heart valve prosthesis including an annular valve body having a central passageway extending therethrough, a pair of valve leaflets, means supporting said pair of leaflets for substantially pivotal movement between a closed position blocking blood flow through said central passageway and an open position allowing blood flow therethrough, and stop means limiting movement of said leaflets between said open and closed positions, wherein the improvement comprises said leaflets each having a pair of guides projecting in opposite directions along the pivotal axis of the leaflet which are formed with spheroidal surfaces, said annular body having a pair of upstanding supports at generally diametrically opposite locations thereon, which supports contain spheroidal depression means proportioned to receive said spheroidal guides, and wherein said supports are formed with stops outside of said depressions which contact the distal surface of said leaflets at a region apart from said spheroidal guides and determine the open position thereof.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 51 words
A prosthesis in accordance with claim 1 wherein the valve body wall which forms said central passageway is that of a right circular cylinder and wherein the major peripheral arcuate edge of said each leaflet is contoured so that the surface of said edge fits flush adjacent said passageway cylindrical wall.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 47 words
A prosthesis in accordance with claim 2 wherein a minor peripheral edge of each leaflet is straight and the edge surface thereof is planar so that the planar surfaces of said minor edges abut each other in surface-to-surface contact when said valve is in the closed position.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 30 words
A prosthesis in accordance with claim 3 wherein said minor edge surfaces are located at an angle between about 60° and about 70° to the distal surface of said leaflets.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 35 words
A prosthesis in accordance with any one of claims 1, 2 or 4 wherein the radius of curvature of said depression means is within about 6% of the radius of curvature of said guide surfaces.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 31 words
A prosthesis in accordance with claim 4 wherein said stops are formed by surfaces oriented at an angle between about 5° and about 10° to the axis of said central passageway.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 25 words
A prosthesis in accordance with claim 1 wherein said central passageway is of circular cross section throughout its entirety including the region between said supports.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 57 words
A prosthesis in accordance with claim 1 wherein the valve body wall which forms said central passageway is that of a right circular cylinder and wherein a tapered ledge is formed which extends into said passageway and against which ledge the distal side of a major arcuate edge portion of said leaflet abuts in the closed position.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US3448465A Cited
GB1160008A Cited
US3579645A Cited
US3835475A Cited
US3903548A Cited
US4078268A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1982-12-17 1983-06-18 1983-12-18 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1986-12-17 1987-06-18 1987-12-18 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 1990-12-17 1991-06-18 1991-12-18 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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