The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Apr. 15, 2014
Filed:
Apr. 16, 2009
Arin N. Holecek, Liberty Lake, WA (US);
Carolyn Majkrzak, San Clemente, CA (US);
Carol E. Eberhardt, Fullerton, CA (US);
Billie J. Millwee, Fullerton, CA (US);
Thao M. Nguyen, Cypress, CA (US);
Janice L. Shay, Lake Forest, CA (US);
Cynthia H. Chiu, Tustin, CA (US);
Tara S. Kupumbati, Irvine, CA (US);
Arin N. Holecek, Liberty Lake, WA (US);
Carolyn Majkrzak, San Clemente, CA (US);
Carol E. Eberhardt, Fullerton, CA (US);
Billie J. Millwee, Fullerton, CA (US);
Thao M. Nguyen, Cypress, CA (US);
Janice L. Shay, Lake Forest, CA (US);
Cynthia H. Chiu, Tustin, CA (US);
Tara S. Kupumbati, Irvine, CA (US);
Medtronic, Inc., Minneapolis, MN (US);
Abstract
A multi-leaflet valve, which includes at least two leaflets, an outer tube, and a seam protector for each seam. Each seam protector is positioned to be in contact with a portion of the outer tube, with tube portions and leaflet ends being positioned between adjacent seam protection pieces. The seam protectors provide a lower stress surface about which the leaflets can bend or flex during their opening and closing. The seam protectors may include an enlarged end portion with an extending straight surface, an inverted U-shaped structure, or a sinusoidal-shaped structure, for example. The valve can further be provided with a seam cover or protector that is stitched onto the seam allowance of the layers of one or more of the seams. The seams can be provided with one or more inserts to fill spaces between adjacent tissue layers and create tension in certain material sheets.