Artificial valved conduits for cardiac reconstructive procedures and methods for their production

摘要

Artificial heart valve structures and methods of their fabrication are disclosed. The heart valve structures may be fabricated from a biocompatible polymer and include one or more heart valve leaflet structures incorporated within a conduit. The valve structures may incorporate one or more conduit sinuses, as well as a gap between the lower margin of the valve leaflets and the interior of the conduit. In addition, the valve structures may include one or more valve sinuses created in a space between the valve leaflets and the conduit inner surface. Computational fluid dynamics and mechanical modeling may be used to design the valve leaflets with optimal characteristics. A heart valve structure may also incorporate a biodegradable component to which cells may adhere The incorporated cells may arise from patient cells migrating to the biodegradable component, or the component may be pre-seeded with cells prior to implantation in a patient.

主权项

1. A valve structure comprising:
a conduit comprising an inner conduit surface; and a multi-leaflet structure having an open state and a closed state comprising: a first valve leaflet, comprising a first sinus structure having a first sinus edge and a first fan structure having a first fan edge, wherein at least a portion of the first sinus edge is affixed to the inner conduit surface; a second valve leaflet, comprising a second sinus structure having a second sinus edge and a second fan structure having a second fan edge, wherein at least a portion of the second sinus edge is affixed to the inner conduit surface; and a commissure disposed between the first valve leaflet and the second valve leaflet, wherein at least a portion of the first fan edge, at least a portion of the second fan edge, and at least a portion of the inner conduit surface are mutually disposed to form a valve gap in the closed state of the multi-leaflet structure.