Importance

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Abstract

A trileaflet heart valve includes a generally annular valve body having an interior wall of nominally circular cross-section into which 3 wedge-shaped projections radially extend to provide 3 pairs of flanking flat surfaces between which leaflets are pivotally supported and which includes an outwardly flaring upstream entrance end that, together with an elongated axial length, assures streamlined flow and a low transvalvular pressure drop. The leaflets assume an orientation substantially parallel to the central axis in the open position with their swinging movement in the direction of closing being guided by pairs of arcuate ridges and posts which protrude from the flanking flat walls of the projections and which guide the leaflets in a pivoting and translating swinging movement. The downstream ends of the curved ridges are enlarged in cross-section, compared to the upstream ends, and in combination with the posts create stops which determine the desired open position orientation of the three leaflets.

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First Claim