Prosthesis for preventing gastric reflux into the esophagus

Claim 1

A prosthesis for preventing gastric reflux into an esophagus comprising: a valve means for controlling a flow direction through the esophagus, said valve means having first and second ends, a longitudinal axis, a generally tubular, resilient side wall, and a flow passage defined therethrough, said valve means being formed from a resilient, bicompatible material and being implantable; said first end of said valve means having a circular cross-section substantially corresponding to a cross-section of the esophagus to allow fixation of said first end to a wall of a hiatal hernia of the esophagus; the resilient side wall of said valve means being progressively, resiliently collapsed adjacent said second end thereby defining a segment of said valve means having resiliently collapsed side walls to at least substantially constrict said flow passage at said second end of said valve means, so that when said valve means is secured to the wall of the hiatal hernia with said second end disposed downstream of the first end, 1) any force generated on an alimentary bolus by a peristaltic wave of the esophagus tends to space apart the resiliently collapsed side walls whereby the second end of said valve means can offer a passage cross-section that is substantially equal to that of the first end of the valve means, 2) a regurgitate gastric reflux force which is substantially greater than a force of a peristaltic wave urges said resiliently collapsed side walls to invert to a position of repose to define, solely for a duration of said gastric reflux force, a flow path for vomit, and 3) any gastric reflux force which is not substantially greater than a force of a peristaltic wave urges said resiliently collapsed side walls to substantially close said second end, thereby to substantially prevent gastric reflux into the esophagus.