Patent ID: 6974474

Claim:
An artificial venous valve configured for use in an incompetent vein of a leg or foot comprising: an artificial valve device adapted for deployment from a catheter lumen within an incompetent vein of a leg or foot; said artificial valve device having a self-expanding frame of resilient material, said frame having a plurality of side elements interconnected by a plurality of oppositely facing bends, said frame having a compressed configured adapted for loading within a catheter lumen wherein said bends are compressed and adjacent ones of said side elements are positioned generally beside one another in close proximity, and an expanded configuration wherein said side elements of the frame are adapted to conform to the wall of the vein; and said artificial valve device further having flexible covering material attached to said frame so as to act as an artificial valve with said frame in said expanded configuration, wherein said flexible covering material comprises submucosa; said flexible covering material defining edge portions having an attachment extending along first and second ones of said side elements adapted to conform to the wall of the vein, said attachment and first and second ones of said side elements defining periphery portions of at least one curved structure between said artificial valve; said flexible covering material configured to displace toward the wall of the vein in an open condition of said artificial valve.