SURGICAL HEART VALVES IDENTIFIABLE POST-IMPLANT

摘要

A prosthetic heart valve configured to replace a native heart valve and for post-implant expansion and having a valve-type indicator thereon visible from outside the body post-implant. The indicator communicates information about the valve, such as the size or orifice diameter of the valve, and/or that the valve has the capacity for post-implant expansion. The indicator can be an alphanumeric symbol or other symbol or combination of symbols that represent information about the characteristics of the valve such as the valve size. The capacity for post-implant expansion facilitates a valve-in-valve procedure, where the valve-type indicator conveys information to the surgeon about whether the implanted valve is suitable for the procedure and informs the choice of the secondary valve.

主权项

1. A prosthetic heart valve, comprising:
an internal support frame defining a flow orifice therethrough, the internal support frame is adapted for post-implant expansion; a plurality of flexible leaflets attached to the support frame and extending across the flow orifice and coming together within the orifice to define one-way flow therethrough; and a valve-type indicator that provides information about a characteristic of the heart valve, the valve-type indicator readable using an external imager.