Patent ID: 7780724

Claim:
A monolithic in situ forming valve, comprising: a superior expandable structure; an inferior expandable structure; and a helical pre-valve component, the helical pre-valve component comprising: a first end attached with the superior expandable structure; and a second end attached with the inferior expandable structure, where the helical pre-valve component is formed such that expansion of the superior expandable structure and the inferior expandable structure causes the helical pre-valve component to transform from a non-functional valve into a functional valve held between each of the expandable structures; wherein the helical pre-valve component further includes a compliant sheet and at least two appendices; and wherein the expansion of the superior expandable structure and inferior expandable structure causes vertical shrinkage of the pre-valve component, which causes a first appendix to engage with the inferior expandable structure and a second appendix to engage with the superior expandable structure, thus inducing the compliant sheet to recoil to form the functional valve there between.