Importance

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Abstract

A heart valve having a base with a passage and a free-floating pivoting disc for controlling the flow of blood through the passage. Inwardly directed proximal and distal pivots control the pivoting movement of the disc. The pivots are offset from the diameter of the disc so that the disc pivots between its open and closed positions between its center and an outer peripheral edge of the disc. The disc is held in free-floating assembled relation with the pivots and base with a curved retaining rod having a curved end projected through a central hole in the disc. In one form of the valve a permanent magnet in the disc assists the closing of the disc in response to a drop in the pressure of blood moving through the valve passage. A suture collar surrounds and is mounted on the outer portions of the base. A low friction sleeve interposed between the base and the collar permits rotation of the valve relative to the suturing collar after the collar has been attached to the heart tissue.

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First Claim