PROSTHETIC HEART VALVE WITH SUTURING MEMBER HAVING NON-UNIFORM RADIAL WIDTH

• Main Author: LEMOLE, GERALD M
• Format: Patent
• Language: English; French
• Published: 19.03.1998
• Edition: 6
• Subjects: BANDAGES, DRESSINGS OR ABSORBENT PADS; DEVICES PROVIDING PATENCY TO, OR PREVENTING COLLAPSING OF,TUBULAR STRUCTURES OF THE BODY, E.G. STENTS; FILTERS IMPLANTABLE INTO BLOOD VESSELS; FIRST-AID KITS; FOMENTATION; HUMAN NECESSITIES; HYGIENE; MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; ORTHOPAEDIC, NURSING OR CONTRACEPTIVE DEVICES; PROSTHESES; TREATMENT OR PROTECTION OF EYES OR EARS

A prosthetic heart valve, either of the mechanical type, or the bioprosthetic type, comprises a circular frame element, a check valve element and a suturing member surrounding the circular frame element. The circular frame element defines a circular opening for the passage of blood therethrough. The check valve element is connected to, and extends across, the circular frame element and is configured to substantially permit the flow of blood through the circular opening in a first direction and to substantially impair the flow of blood through the circular opening in a second direction opposite the first direction. The suturing member surrounds the circular frame element and has a first radial width in a first circumferential region substantially greater than a second radial width in a second circumferential region to define an extended portion of the suturing member. The extended portion of the suturing member can be attached to a downwardly sagging portion of a patient's valve annulus with sutures, thereby ensuring proper orientation of the valve in the patient's heart.