Patent ID: 8147543

Claim:
An artificial valve for implantation in a patient's blood vessel comprising: a first valve member of the artificial valve, a second valve member of the artificial valve, each of the first and second valve members having a first smooth surface on a first side of the respective valve member and a second surface on a second side of the respective valve member, opposite the first side of the respective valve member, the first smooth surface of the first valve member facing the first smooth surface of the second valve member so as to form a sealing contact between the first and second valve members, each of the first and second valve members further having at least one blood flow passage extending from the first surface of the respective valve member, completely through the respective valve member to the second surface of the respective valve member, at least one of the first and second valve members being arranged so as to be displaceable relative to the other valve member in a slidable manner, such that the blood flow passage of the second valve member can be brought into at least partial alignment with the blood flow passage of the first valve member while maintaining the sealing contact between the first and second valve members, and a displacing mechanism of the artificial valve for the displacement of the first and second valve members relative to one another, the displaceable arrangement of the first and second valve members relative to one another being such that the at least one displaceably arranged valve members is continuously slidable in one direction.