Patent ID: 9585753
Date: 2017-03-07
CPC Classifications: A61F

Claim:
1. An intraannular heart valve implant comprising: a body having first and second shoulder portions and a convex shaped central portion, wherein the first and second shoulder portions taper from a first width to a second width toward the central portion to reduce resistance to blood flow, wherein the central portion comprises a narrowed portion narrower than part of the first and second shoulder portions to reduce resistance to blood flow, wherein a portion of the body is dimensioned for attachment within an intraannular plane of a heart valve annulus, and wherein part of the implant is configured to be positioned within the intraannular plane of the heart valve annulus such that the central portion extends transversely across a coaptive edge formed by two or three valve leaflets, and such that the central portion is convex in the direction of blood flow to support the two or three valve leaflets and elevate the position of the coaptive edge in the direction of blood flow during closure of the two or three valve leaflets.