Patent ID: 6090139
Filing Date: 2000-07-18
Classification: A61K,A61M

Abstract:
An artificial heart valve to be attached to a human heart to aid in the expansion and contraction of the heart muscle, comprising:a flexible, toroidal container having an inner periphery and an outer periphery and attachable to a human heart;a first membrane encircling and attached to said outer periphery;an expandable copolymer gel filling said first membrane;first electrode means operably attached to said expandable copolymer gel inside said first membrane;a second membrane encircling and attached to said inner periphery;an expandable copolymer gel filling said second membrane;second electrode means operably attached to said expandable copolymer gel inside said second membrane; andenabling said flexible toroidal container to alternate between an open position in which the outer perphery is expanded by applying a voltage to said first membrane which causes said outer periphery to expand and a voltage to said second membrane which causes said second membrane to contract; anda closed position in which the inner periphery is expanded by applying a voltage to said second membrane which causes said membrane to expand and a voltage to said first membrane which causes said membrane to contract in response to alternating voltages applied to said first and second electrode means whereby said opening and closing of said valve may be coordinated with the expansion and contraction of the muscles of the heart.