LEAFLET FOR LOW GRADIENT PROSTHETIC HEART VALVE

摘要

A low pressure gradient prosthetic heart valve for implant in a human. The valve includes a support frame with undulating inflow cusps and outflow commissure posts to which flexible leaflets attach and coapt in a flow area. The commissure posts angle outward in a neutral state to widen the outflow orifice area. Also, the leaflets are designed to fit within the support frame and expand outward in a valve open state without creating a shelf or belly that would restrict flow.

主权项

1. A leaflet for a low pressure gradient prosthetic heart valve, comprising:
a flexible leaflet having an arcuate cusp edge opposite a free edge and opposed attachment tabs therebetween, the leaflet having a central area subject to stress when secured within a surrounding heart valve support frame, the leaflet being symmetric about a central midplane and the arcuate cusp edge being defined by a complex curve of multiple radii, the complex curve having its smallest radius on the central midplane that gradually increases on both sides away from the central plane, reaches a maximum at about 45° angle from the central axis, and then gradually decreases to two corners where the two ends of the arcuate cusp edge meet the attachment tabs.