Transluminally implantable venous valve

Claim 2

A self expandable prosthetic venous valve, comprising: a tubular wire support, expandable from a first, reduced diameter to a second, enlarged diameter, and having a flow path therethrough; and at least one leaflet pivotably positioned in the flow path for permitting flow in a forward direction and resisting flow in a reverse direction, the leaflet comprising an internal support having a first pivot point and a second pivot point attached to opposing sides of the tubular support, and a rotational axis extending through the first and second pivot points; wherein the leaflet comprises a major axis which is perpendicular to and longer than a minor axis, and the leaflet is compressible and expandable along its minor axis between a first, reduced dimension and a second, enlarged dimension.

Claim 3

A self expandable valve as in claim 1 , wherein the leaflet comprises a wire frame having a first eyelet and a second eyelet thereon.

Claim 4

A self expandable valve as in claim 2 , wherein the wire comprises at least two longitudinal struts extending generally along the direction of the major axis and connected by a bend.

Claim 5

A self expandable valve as in claim 3 , comprising at least four longitudinal struts and at least three bends.

Claim 6

A self expandable valve as in claim 3 , further comprising at least two pivots on the tubular wire support defining an axis of rotation.

Claim 7

A self expandable valve as in claim 5 , wherein each pivot comprises a wire loop for pivotable attachment to the leaflet.

Claim 8

A self expandable valve as in claim 2 , further comprising a cover on the wire frame.

Claim 9

A self expandable valve as in claim 1 , wherein the tubular support comprises a plurality of substantially straight sections separated by a plurality of bends.

Claim 10

A self expandable valve as in claim 8 , further comprising a tubular polymeric sleeve on the tubular support.

Claim 11

A self expandable valve as in claim 5 , wherein the axis of rotation is substantially perpendicular to the major axis.

Claim 12

An implantable vascular valve, comprising: a tubular wire frame, having a proximal end, a distal end and a flow path extending therethrough; and at least one valve leaflet moveably positioned within the flow path, the valve leaflet rotatable about an axis which is approximately perpendicular to the flow path and spaced apart from the tubular wire frame by a sufficient distance to allow blood flow on both surfaces of the leaflet when in an open position; wherein the leaflet is moveable between a closed position which is inclined within the range of from about 15° to about 75° from the axis of the flow path and the open position which is closer to parallel with the axis of the flow path than the closed position.

Claim 13

An implantable vascular valve, comprising: a tubular wire frame, having a proximal end, a distal end and a flow path extending therethrough; and at least one valve leaflet moveably positioned within the flow path, the valve leaflet rotatable about an axis which is approximately perpendicular to the flow path and spaced apart from the tubular wire frame by a sufficient distance to allow blood flow on both surfaces of the leaflet when in an open position; wherein the leaflet is moveable between a closed position which is inclined within the range of from about 15° to about 75° from the axis of the flow path and the open position which is closer to parallel with the axis of the flow path than the closed position.

Claim 14

An implantable vascular valve as in claim 11 , wherein the leaflet comprises a major axis and a minor axis, and the leaflet is compressible along its minor axis to a reduced, implantation cross section and self expandable along its minor axis to an enlarged, implanted cross section.

Claim 17

A self expandable prosthetic venous valve, comprising: a tubular wire support, expandable from a first, reduced diameter to a second, enlarged diameter, and having a flow path extending therethrough; a first leaflet, pivotably attached to the tubular wire support, said leaflet having zig zag frame, a base at a first end and a coaptive edge at a second end; a second leaflet pivotably attached to the tubular wire support, said second leaflet having a zig zag frame, a base and a coaptive edge end; the first and second leaflets pivotable about first and second axes, respectively, the first and second axes extending transversely through the tubular wire support; wherein the first and second leaflet are configured to permit blood flow in a forward direction from the base through the coaptive edges, and the coaptive edges are brought into contact with each other to obstruct the flow path in response to blood flow in a reverse direction.

Claim 18

A self expandable prosthetic venous valve, comprising: a tubular wire support, expandable from a first, reduced diameter to a second, enlarged diameter, and having a flow path extending therethrough; a first leaflet, pivotably attached to the tubular wire support, said leaflet having zig zag frame, a base at a first end and a coaptive edge at a second end; a second leaflet pivotably attached to the tubular wire support, said second leaflet having a zig zag frame, a base and a coaptive edge end; the first and second leaflets pivotable about first and second axes, respectively, the first and second axes extending transversely through the tubular wire support; wherein the first and second leaflet are configured to permit blood flow in a forward direction from the base through the coaptive edges, and the coaptive edges are brought into contact with each other to obstruct the flow path in response to blood flow in a reverse direction.

Claim 19

A valve as in claim 14 wherein each of the first and second axes are spaced apart from each other.

Claim 20

A valve as in claim 14 wherein each leaflet comprises a blood flow restricting membrane thereon.

Claim 21

A self expandable prosthetic venous valve as in claim 1 , wherein the leaflet is provided with an anti-thrombogenic surface.

Claim 22

An implantable vascular valve as in claim 11 , wherein the leaflet is provided with a surface for minimizing thrombus formation.