Importance

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Abstract

A prosthetic heart valve comprising a tubular valve body and a pair of leaflets which pivot, or translate and pivot, between open and closed positions. The valve body is of circular interior cross-section except for a pair of diametrically opposed flat wall sections which contain recesses within which the pivot axes of the leaflets are located. Arcuate edges of the leaflets are irregularly shaped so that a pair of protrusions extend radially outward from an otherwise generally semicircular periphery. The protrusions are strategically located so as to contact the interior surface of the valve body in the closed position at arcuately spaced apart locations which flank the centerline of the leaflet. As a result, contact in the closed position occurs at two spaced apart locations rather than at a single location, and at least a minimum gap is established at the central tip of the leaflet which counteracts potential cavitation, noise and hemolysis.

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First Claim