HEART VALVE LEAFLET WITH SCALLOPED FREE MARGIN

摘要

A heart valve prosthesis (10) includes a molded body (12) and a plurality of leaflets (18). Each leaflet (18) includes a free margin (22) having opposite ends and a mid-point. The opposite ends are attached to a peripheral portion of the valve. Each free margin (22) is adjacent each other free margin (22) to form a natural-state non-uniform gap (24) therebetween. The gap (24) has a maximized width adjacent the mid-point of each leaflet (18). Each free margi n (22) is scalloped to form a peak (36) at the opposite ends and a mid-point peak (40) between the opposite ends. Each peak is substantially the same height above the base.