Patent ID: 8029557

Claim:
An esophageal valve comprising a polymeric valve body having an outer support region, at least three valve leaflets, and a main body region extending between the support region and the valve leaflets, the valve having: a normally closed configuration in which the valve is closed; an antegrade open configuration in which the valve leaflets are opened in response to an antegrade force to allow flow through the valve; a retrograde open configuration in response to a retrograde force which is substantially larger than the antegrade force; wherein the valve leaflets have a region of co-aption, wherein: (a) the valve body is reinforced at the region of co-aption; or (b) wherein the valve body is thickened at the region of co-aption; and wherein (c) the region of co-aption extends for an axial length of at least 1 mm.