| 摘要 |
In one embodiment of the invention, a leaflet for use in a prosthetic valve is disclosed cut from filtration screen material with uniform pore size having openings with a dimension inclusively between fifteen and sixty microns. The screen material is made from biocompatible material, such as polyester or polypropylene. One or more outer edges of the leaflet are fused or sealed to prevent fraying of the material and to form a more non-thrombogenic surface. The fused or sealed edge can be created by cutting the leaflet from the screen material using a non-contact cutting method (e.g., a laser) or a heat generating contact cutting method (e.g., a radio frequency (RF) cutter or heated cutting blade). Prosthetic check valves assembled with the leaflets can be collapsed to a diameter of less than or equal to twenty-nine french (29f), sterilized, and stored in a collapsed state. The collapsed valve can be implanted without prior rinsing to remove sterilant. The compressed or collapsed valve may be sterilized and included as part of a sterile catheter delivery system or kit, ready for minimally invasive implantation without rinsing prior to use. |
