Patent ID: 6902576

Claim:
A method for forming a vascular valve for directing blood flow in an antegrade direction to an autologous vessel that requires a vascular valve, said method comprising the steps of, A. providing a tubular conduit means for providing passage for the blood flow from an upstream portion of the autologous vessel to a downstream portion of the autologous vessel, B. folding a portion of a wall of said tubular conduit means and holding it in apposition with another portion of a wall to form at least two regions, a first region having an open inlet end and an open outlet end, and a second region having an open outlet end and closed inlet end, C. holding a portion of a wall of said first region into contact with a portion of a wall of said second region forming at least a portion of at least one valve cusp, whereby said first region provides passage for antegrade blood flow and said valve cusp directs a portion of retrograde blood flow into said open outlet end of said second region.