Patent EA-003523-B1 (EA)
Title: A rotatable leaflet for a prosthetic heart valve and a prosthetic heart valve
Inventor: LAPEYRE DIDIER
IPC: A61F2/24
Filed: 1999-06-02
Abstract: 1. A rotatable leaflet for a prosthetic heart valve comprising: a main portion including leading and trailing edge surfaces, and inner and outer surfaces connecting the leading arid trailing edge surfaces, wherein the inner surface generally defines a convex curvature from the leading edge surface to the trailing edge surface and the outer surface generally defines a convex curvature proximate the leading edge surface and a concave curvature proximate the trailing edge surface; and first and second winglet portions situated on opposite ends of the leaflet to facilitate rotation of the leaflet. 2. The rotatable leaflet of claim 1, wherein the inner surface has a convex curvature from the first winglet portion to the second winglet portion. 3. The rotatable leaflet of claim 1, wherein the outer surface has a concave curvature from the first winglet portion to the second winglet portion. 4. The rotatable leaflet of claim 1, 2, or 3, wherein the distance between the inner and outer surfaces is greater proximate the leading edge surface than the distance between the inner and outer surfaces proximate the trailing edge surface such that the leaflet has an airfoil-like cross section. 5. The rotatable leaflet of claim 1, wherein the leaflet is formed from pyrolytic carbon. 6. The rotatable leaflet of claim 4, wherein the leaflet is formed from pyrolytic carbon. 7. The rotatable leaflet of claim 1, wherein each winglet portion is attached to the inner and outer surfaces and the leading and trailing edge surfaces. 8. A rotatable leaflet for an early-closing prosthetic heart valve comprising: a main portion including leading and trailing edge surfaces, and inner and outer surfaces connecting the leading and trailing edge surfaces; first and second winglet portions situated on opposite ends of the leaflet to facilitate rotation of the. leaflet; and closure means for causing the leaflet to rotate toward a closed position prior to substantial backwards flow of blood through the heart valve. 9. The rotatable leaflet of claim 8, wherein the closure means causes the leaflet to begin to rotate toward a closed position about when the maximum flow rate has been achieved through the valve. 10. The rotatable leaflet of claim 8, wherein the closure means comprises a configuration wherein the inner surface has a convex curvature from the leading edge surface to the trailing edge surface and the outer surface has a convex curvature proximate the leading edge surface and a concave curvature proximate the trailing edge surface. 11. The rotatable leaflet of claim 10, wherein the closure means further comprises a configuration wherein the distance between the inner and outer surfaces is greater proximate the leading edge surface than the distance between the inner and outer surfaces proximate the trailing edge surface such that the leaflet has an airfoil-like cross section. 12. The rotatable leaflet of claim 10, wherein the inner surface has a convex curvature from the first winglet portion to the second winglet portion. 13. The rotatable leaflet of claim 12, wherein the outer surface has a concave curvature from the first winglet portion to the second winglet portion. 14. The rotatable leaflet of claim 8 or 11, wherein the leaflet is formed from pyrolytic carbon. 15. A mechanical prosthetic heart valve, the valve comprising: an annular housing having an inner circumferential surface and at least one leaflet disposed adjacent to the inner circumferential surface and capable of rotation between an open position in which blood can flow through the heart valve and a closed position in which blood is prevented from flowing through the heart valve, the leaflet comprising; a main portion including leading and trailing edge surfaces, and inner and outer surfaces connecting the leading and trailing edge surfaces, wherein the inner surface generally defines a convex curvature from the leading edge surface to the trailing edge surface and the outer surface generally defines a convex curvature proximate the leading edge surface and a concave curvature proximate the trailing edge surface; and first and second winglet portions situated on opposite ends of the leaflet to facilitate rotation of the leaflet. 16. The mechanical prosthetic heart valve of claim 15, wherein the annular housing comprises a nozzle shape along the inner circumferential surface. 17. The mechanical prosthetic heart valve of claim 15, wherein the inner circumferential surface includes inflow projections to receive the leaflet. 18. The mechanical prosthetic heart valve of claim 15, wherein the inner surface of the at least one leaflet has a convex curvature from the first winglet portion to the second winglet portion. 19. The mechanical prosthetic heart valve of claim 18, wherein the outer surface of the at least one leaflet has a concave curvature from the first winglet portion to the second winglet portion. 20. The mechanical prosthetic heart valve of claim 15, 18 or 19, wherein the distance between the firmer and outer surfaces of the at least one leaflet is greater proximate the leading edge surface than the distance between the inner and outer surfaces proximate the trailing edge surface such that the at least one leaflet has an airfoil-like cross section. 21. The mechanical prosthetic heart valve of claim 15, further comprising at least two leaflets. 22. The mechanical prosthetic heart valve of claim 21, further comprising at least three leaflets. 23. The mechanical prosthetic heart valve of claim 15, wherein the valve housing is formed from a metallic material. 24. The mechanical prosthetic heart valve of claim 15, wherein the at least one leaflet is formed from pyrolytic carbon. 25. A mechanical early-closing prosthetic heart valve, the valve comprising: an annular housing having an inner circumferential surface: and at least one leaflet disposed adjacent to the inner circumferential surface and capable of rotation between an open position in which blood can flow through the heart valve and a closed position in which blood is prevented from flowing through the heart valve, the leaflet comprising closure means for causing the leaflet to rotate toward a closed position prior to substantial back flow of blood through the heart valve. 26. The mechanical early-closing prosthetic heart valve of claim 25, wherein the closure means causes the leaflet to begin to rotate toward a closed position about when a maximum flow rate has been achieved through the valve. 27. The mechanical early-closing prosthetic heart valve of claim 25, wherein the at least one leaflet comprises: a main portion including leading and trailing edge surfaces, and inner and outer surfaces connecting the leading and trailing edge surfaces; and first and second winglet portions situated on opposite ends of the at least one leaflet to facilitate rotation of the leaflet. 28. The mechanical early-closing prosthetic heart valve of claim 27, wherein the closure means comprises a configuration wherein the inner surface generally defines a convex curvature from the leading edge surface to the trailing edge surface and the outer surface generally defines a convex curvature proximate the leading edge surface and a concave curvature proximate the trailing edge surface. 29. The mechanical early-closing prosthetic heart valve of claim 28, wherein the closure means further comprises a configuration wherein the distance between the inner and outer surfaces of the at least one leaflet is greater proximate the leading edge surface than the distance between the inner and outer surfaces proximate the trailing edge surface such that the leaflet has an airfoil-like cross section. 30. A mechanical prosthetic heart valve comprising: an annular housing having an inner circumferential surface; and at least one leaflet disposed adjacent to the inner circumferential surface and capable of rotation between an open position in which blood can flow through the heart valve and a closed position in which blood is prevented from flowing through the heart valve, the at least one leaflet comprising a main portion including leading and trailing edge surfaces, and inner and outer surfaces connecting the leading and trailing edge surfaces, and first and second winglet portions situated on opposite ends of the at least one leaflet to facilitate rotation of the at least one leaflet; and first and second leaflet pivot structures adapted to cooperate with the first and second winglets, respectively, to facilitate rotation of the at least one leaflet between the open and closed positions, each of the first and second leaflet pivot structures comprising: an inflow projection extending from the inner circumferential surface of the housing and adapted to contact one of the winglet portions in one of the open and closed positions; and a closing projection extending from the inner circumferential surface of the housing and adapted to contact one of the winglet portions in the closed position, wherein the closing projection and the inflow projection are configured and spaced from one another to increase flow velocity proximate the one of the winglet portions. 31. The mechanical prosthetic heart valve of claim 30, wherein each inflow projection has a first width proximate the inner surface of the annular housing, and a second width distal from the inner surface of the valve housing less than the first width. 32. The mechanical prosthetic heart valve of claim 30, wherein each closing projection has a first width proximate the inner surface of the annular housing, and a second width distal from the inner surface of the valve housing less than the first width. 33. The mechanical prosthetic heart valve of claim 30, wherein the annular housing defines at least one opening there through proximate the inflow and closing projections. 34. The mechanical prosthetic heart valve of claim 33, wherein the distance between the inflow projection and the closing projection dec