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Abstract

A synthetic leaflet aortic and mitral heart valve for use in replacement of diseased natural heart valves having a flexible, curved framework, a flexible membrane attached to the framework and fixation means for attaching the valve to the tissue annulus. The framework consists of at least three curved flexible valve struts, each joined together at one end to a common central point of the valve and extending in the same direction radially at equal angles so that the free ends are unattached and at a distance from one another. The free ends are provided with sewing pads for artificial attachment of each free end separately to the natural tissue annulus or to an artificial annulus reconstruction ring which itself is sutured to the tissue annulus to restore its symmetry. The membrane is formed of a thin, common flexible synthetic material which is hemispherically shaped to fit over, and be attached to the framework to provide at least three partial hemispheric segments extending between adjacent frame struts in such a manner that the free edge of each segment can contact the tissue annulus when the valve is closed. Upon forward flow of the blood, the valve segments collapse inward against one another and allow blood to pass between the tissue annulus and the collapsed membrane segments.

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First Claim