POLYMER HEART VALVE WITH INSERT MOLDED FABRIC SEWING CUFF

摘要

A flexible leaflet heart valve (10) includes an annular body (12) and an annular base portion (14) connected to an end of the body. A fabric member (24) is molded into the base portion (14) to form an uninterrupted annular fabric band around the periphery (16) of the base portion. The fabric band may include a first portion (30) molded into the base (14) and a second portion (32) extending from the base (14). Alternatively, the fabric band (24) may be entirely encapsulated in the base (14). The valve fabric (24) can be sutured directly to patient tissue, or the valve fabric (24) can be sutured to an adjacent sewing cuff (50, 60) which is sutured to patient tissue.