Patent ID: 7575594

Claim:
A biocompatible valve for implanting in a biological organism to confine flow of a biological fluid to a single direction, the valve comprising: a mount affixable to the organism, said mount having a first aperture and a second aperture formed in opposing relationship therein for allowing the fluid to flow longitudinally through said mount; a valve mechanism operable into one of an open position and a closed position, said valve mechanism having formed therein an orifice coaxially aligned with said first aperture and said second aperture of said mount, said valve mechanism including a supporting portion for supporting at least one leaf member in pivotally displaceable manner relative thereto, said supporting portion being longitudinally displaceable in said mount between said first aperture and said second aperture; and a dampening mechanism element coupled to said valve mechanism and said mount, said dampening mechanism displaceably maintaining said supporting portion of said valve mechanism for displacement within said mount subsequent to leaf member closure, said dampening mechanism being operable to dissipate energy at said orifice transferred to said valve mechanism by a mechanical transition thereof.