Cardiac valve, system, and method

摘要

A cardiac valve with a support frame having a first end member and a second end member opposing the first end member in a substantially fixed distance relationship, and a cover extending over the support frame to allow for unidirectional flow of a liquid through the valve.

主权项

1. A cardiac valve, the cardiac valve having a first valve end and a second valve end, the first end being open, the cardiac valve comprising:
a support frame having a uniform longitudinal frame length, an outer surface and an inner surface, the inner surface defining a lumen, the support frame comprising:
a first frame end member forming a first frame end, the first frame end positioned at the first valve end, the first frame end member comprising a sequence of convex curves and concave curves forming a closed ring;a second frame end member forming a second frame end, the second frame end positioned at the second valve end, the second frame end member comprising a sequence of convex curves and concave curves forming a closed ring;the first frame end member and the second frame end member in a fixed distance relationship; and a cover, the cover comprising:
a first cover portion, the first cover portion being in contact with the outer surface of the support frame, the first cover portion having a uniform longitudinal length equal to the uniform longitudinal frame length;a first valve leaflet and a second valve leaflet extending from the first cover portion, each leaflet having a variable longitudinal length; the cardiac valve having a closed valve configuration wherein the first and second valve leaflets extend over the second frame end and between the convex curves of the second frame end member so that each leaflet projects into the lumen of the support frame thereby obstructing flow of a fluid through the lumen of the support frame; and the cardiac valve having an open valve configuration wherein each leaflet extends away from the lumen of the support frame so that fluid freely flows through the lumen of the support frame.