The International Heart Institute of Montana Foundation

Cardiotech International, Inc.

Joon Hock Yeo

Carlos M G Duran

A pair of templates form a mold for substantially flat biological membranes to shape the membrane into a configuration that, after trimming of excess tissue, is adapted for forming a replacement aortic, pulmonary, tricuspid or mitral heart valve. Each template has three members joined to another laterally, with each member configured to form, together with its mating member, the mold for one leaflet or cusp of the replacement heart valve. The negative template has concave surfaces for each member and the positive template has convex surfaces which mate with the concave surfaces of the first template. Each of the templates is made of thin, shell like material and has beveled edges. The biological membrane is placed between the mating convex and concave surfaces of the two templates assembled to one another to form the membrane into the configuration of the three leaflets of the replacement heart valve.

Mold to form stent-less replacement heart valves from biological membranes

Bileaflet heart valves are illustrated which employ a pair of leaflets having flat inflow and outflow surfaces that are nonparallel to each other with the downstream arcuate edges being thinner than the mating upstream edges. The pivot mechanisms are constructed so that the leaflet inflow surfaces can be oriented parallel to the centerline through the valve body in the full open position, with the offset outflow surfaces constituting a diffuser section which provides for pressure recovery and reduces overall pressure drop through the valve. The pivot structures are preferably generally ellipsoidal in shape, with the long axis of the ellipsoid being aligned generally in an upstream-downstream direction. This feature together with the offset outflow surfaces of the leaflets promotes prompt closing of the valve. Optionally, upstream and downstream stops which protrude radially inward from the three-dimensional surfaces of the pivot structures can be offset with respect to the centers of the ellipsoidal structures to further promote prompt closing.

Growing community of inventors

Singapore, Singapore

Joon Hock Yeo