Patent ID: 6673109
Filing Date: 2004-01-06
Classification: A61F,A61L,G06Q,Y10S

Abstract:
A replacement atrioventricular heart valve suitable for placement in a heart of a patient, comprising:an elongate, tubular starting material, comprising: a thin and flexible wall portion having diametrically opposing sides; an inlet end and an outlet end, the inlet end sized and adapted to be circumferentially secured substantially flush with a valve annulus formed by removing a native atrioventricular heart valve, the tubular starting material sized so that when the inlet end is secured in the annulus, the outlet end lies adjacent at least some papillary muscles or chordae tendinea that have been detached from their associated native atrioventricular heart valve; at least two securement portions adjacent the outlet end and spaced from each other, the securement portions adapted to be attached to papillary muscles or chordae tendinea; and unconstrained regions between the securement portions, the unconstrained regions adapted to flex inwardly into and out of engagement with each other so that when the regions are engaged, a line of commissure is created that resembles native atrioventricular valve leaflet commissure wherein the tubular starting material of the replacement atrioventricular heart valve is derived from one or more of the following materials: synthetic material, pericardial sac, fascia lata, intestinal tissue segment, or animal tissue culture.