Patent ID: 7160320
Filing Date: 2007-01-09
Classification: A61F

Abstract:
1. A process of surgically implanting an intravascular one-way valve having a plurality of leaflets, to serve as a prosthesis for a diseased native valve of a mammal, into the blood vessel of a mammal in need of such implantation, the process comprising the steps of: suturing the inflow orifice of the valve into a base in a blood vessel of the mammal, and suturing the outflow orifice to the mammal's blood vessel only at the comissures, the valve comprising: a tubular member formed of one of a naturally occurring tubular body channel and of a membrane, the membrane being selected from a group of materials consisting of biocompatible polymer and biologic flat membrane, said membrane configured as a truncated cone, the tubular member having an inflow orifice and an outflow orifice, the leaflets forming the outflow orifice and forming a plurality of commissures; a first flexible stent consisting essentially of material selected from the group consisting of thin metal wire, thin plastic ring, or suture filament, said first stent being removably affixed in a substantially circular fashion around the tubular member in proximity of the inflow orifice, and a second flexible stent consisting essentially of material selected from the group consisting of thin metal wire, thin plastic ring, or suture filament, said second stent being removably affixed at the location of the commissures to form a circle around the tubular member in proximity of the outflow orifice the valve.