Advancements in Mechanical or Metallic Prosthetic Heart Valves
11 patents in this list
Updated:
This page provides information on mechanical and metallic valves used as prosthetic heart valves, highlighting their benefits and considerations for patients requiring heart valve replacement.
Prosthetic heart valves play a crucial role in treating patients with heart valve disease, where the natural heart valve is damaged or malfunctioning. Heart valve replacement with prosthetic valves can improve quality of life and extend the lifespan of patients. Mechanical or metallic valves are one of the options available for heart valve replacement, offering unique advantages in certain patient populations.
Designing mechanical and metallic prosthetic heart valves involves overcoming several technological challenges. These valves must be durable, long-lasting, and reliable to withstand the demanding conditions within the human heart. The materials used must have suitable biocompatibility and structural strength to withstand continuous blood flow and pressure. The valve design must also minimize complications such as blood clot formation and infection, while ensuring optimal hemodynamics for efficient blood flow.
1. Metal Leaflet Prosthetic Heart Valve with Pore Design for Enhanced Durability
St. Jude Medical, Cardiology Division, Inc., 2022
Prosthetic heart valve with metal leaflets having pores instead of using biological leaflets. The valve has a collapsible stent, cuff, and metal leaflets that coapt to close the valve and pivot open. The leaflets are made of braided wire or mesh with pores instead of using biological tissue. This allows the valve to be durable and less prone to erosion compared to valves with biological leaflets.
2. Reciprocating Mechanical Valve Systems for Implantable Blood Flow Assistance
MARLIN STEPHEN HEILMAN, DOUGLAS J. KOEBLER, CHARLES ROBERT KOHLER, JON DAVID WAGNER, DAVID M. REILLY, 2013
Implantable pump systems for assisting blood flow to treat heart failure. The pump systems have moving valves that oscillate back and forth to propel blood. The valves have rigid closure members that can be actively moved to close or open. This allows precise control over the pumping action. The valves are driven by a reciprocating mechanism. The pumps can be fully implanted in the aorta or other vessels to boost blood flow and relieve heart failure symptoms.
3. Amorphous Metal Alloys for Enhanced Biocompatibility and Durability in Prosthetic Heart Valves
Zuli Holdings, Ltd., 2011
Medical devices containing amorphous metal alloys for improved biocompatibility, fatigue resistance, and corrosion resistance in implants. The devices can be temporary or permanent implants like sutures, surgical fabrics, orthopedic prostheses, heart components, and stents. The amorphous metal alloys are formed by chill block melt spinning, a process that avoids toxic additives. The devices benefit from the alloys' unique properties like high strength, elasticity, and corrosion resistance for implant durability.
4. Flexible Sizer for Accurate Prosthetic Heart Valve Sizing
Medtronic, Inc., 2009
A flexible sizer for accurately determining the proper size of a prosthetic heart valve to be implanted during heart valve replacement surgery. The sizer has a body with an outer ring and an annular wall that extends from the ring. The annular wall has a flexibility similar to the annular extension of the prosthetic heart valve. This allows the sizer to better match the flexibility of the actual prosthetic valve when inserted into the patient's heart valve annulus, providing a more accurate size evaluation.
5. Innovative Metal Film Prosthetic Valves for Percutaneous Implantation
Advanced Bio Prosthetic Surfaces, Ltd., 2007
Percutaneous prosthetic valves for implantation in mammals like humans, using metal or pseudometal films to make the valve flaps and graft covering. The valve flaps are made from layered metal films to improve mechanical properties compared to wrought metal. The graft covering has openings to allow cell migration but prevent fluid flow. The metal valve flaps are coupled to a stent and biased to close. The metal films provide improved mechanical strength, corrosion resistance, and fatigue compared to wrought metal. The layered flaps also have better crack propagation resistance due to interface microroughness. The metal films are delivered endovascularly without removing the native valve.
6. Implantable Miniature Blood Pump for Cardiac Support Integrated with Heart Valve
Robert Jarvik, 2006
A miniature blood pump that can be implanted across a heart valve to provide long-term cardiac support without needing external cannulas. The pump is designed to fit within the valve annulus and protrude just into the ventricle or artery. It has an axial flow pump inside an adaptor that matches the valve leaflets. The adaptor seals against the valve to maintain normal flow when the pump is off. The pump is small enough to fit within the valve area and projects a short distance into the ventricle or artery. The pump is turned off to replace components without removing the device. This eliminates cannulas and reduces complications. The pump is also non-thrombogenic due to high flow washing its surfaces.
7. Bi-Leaflet Prosthetic Heart Valve with Enhanced Durability and Performance
Harischandra K. Mhatre, 2005
A bi-leaflet prosthetic heart valve made of pyrolytic carbon and plastic components that provides improved durability, reliability, and performance compared to prior art valves. The valve assembly avoids issues like component warping, cracking, dislodging, and poor function by using molded plastic for the annulus and carbon for the leaflets and bearing blocks. This allows assembly without flexing and prevents deformities or slippage. The carbon components provide strength and closure while the plastic annulus allows flexibility. The carbon and plastic components work cooperatively for long-term durability and function.
8. Innovative Pyrolytic Carbon Bi-leaflet Prosthetic Heart Valve with Removable Bearing Blocks
Harischandra K. Mhatre, 2005
A pyrolytic carbon bi-leaflet prosthetic heart valve with improved reliability, durability, ease of assembly, and reduced cost compared to prior art designs. The valve uses a ring structure with removable and replaceable bearing blocks instead of integrated bearing surfaces. The blocks have tapers that mate with the ring's tapers for secure retention. This allows separate fabrication and replacement of the blocks, preventing damage to the pyrolytic carbon coating during assembly. The ring has recesses for the leaflet ears, but the other block provides the opposite bearing. This reduces contact between the ears and the ring, preventing slipping or dislodgement. The removable blocks also enable adjustment of axial play for optimal hinge engagement.
9. Innovative Mechanical Heart Valve Design to Minimize Turbulence and Thrombosis Risk
Medical Carbon Research Institute L.L.C., 1998
Mechanical heart valve design with pivoting occluders to minimize blood flow turbulence and thrombosis. The valve has a longer axial length compared to traditional designs. The occluders pivot and translate to open and close, following the direction of blood flow. This reduces turbulence compared to fixed occluders. The valve body orifice is contoured to eliminate the usual zone of separation that causes turbulence. The extended length, pivoting occluders, and shaped orifice aim to reduce pressure drop and thrombosis risk in mechanical heart valves.
10. Wear-Resistant and Biocompatible Zirconium Coatings for Cardiovascular Implants
Smith & Nephew Richards, Inc., 1993
Cardiovascular implants like heart valves and artificial hearts fabricated from zirconium or zirconium alloys coated with a thin layer of zirconium nitride or black or blue-black zirconium oxide to reduce wear and enhance blood biocompatibility. The coatings provide resistance to microabrasion and impact wear, which is important for long-term durability of implants. The coatings are formed by heat treating the zirconium in a nitrogen or ammonia atmosphere instead of air to force nitridation over oxidation. This prevents the naturally-present zirconium oxide from initiating microabrasion and wear.
11. Integral Formation of Valve Ring and Support Strut in Mechanical Heart Valves for Improved Blood Flow
Shiley, Inc., 1982
Improving blood flow through heart valves by integrally forming the valve ring and closing support strut to eliminate welds and allow optimal cross-section shapes. The strut can have a teardrop cross-section with increased area for strength, as the integral formation allows machining without distortion. This reduces flow obstruction compared to circular wires. Eliminating the weld fillet also allows smaller ring heights. The integral formation improves valve structural integrity and flow simultaneously.
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