Pivoting disc-type heart valve with two-piece base

Claim 2

A heart valve for controlling the flow of blood comprising: base means having an internal wall forming a passage through the base means, disc means located in said passage selectively movable to an open position to allow flow of blood through said passage in one direction and to a closed position to restrict the flow of blood through said passage in the opposite direction, said disc means having an annular uninterrupted outer peripheral edge cooperating with said internal wall to close said passage when the disc means is in the closed position, pivot means attached to the base means allowing pivotal movement of the disc means between its open position and closed position and rotational movement relative to the axis thereof, and retaining means for holding the disc means in assembled relation with the base, said retaining means including means for guiding the disc means along a curved path between the open position and closed position thereof and allowing the disc means greater lateral movement when the disc means is in the open position than when the disc means is in the closed position, said base means having a first annular member, at least part of said pivot means being attached to the first annular member, and a second annular member mounted on the first annular member, means securing the first annular member to the second annular member, said retaining means for holding the disc means in assembled relation with the base being attached to the second annular member.

Claim 3

The heart valve of claim 1 wherein: said retaining means for holding the disc means in assembled relation with the base comprise side shields secured to the second member, said shields having the means for guiding the disc means, said means for guiding the disc means including concave curved surfaces cooperating with the disc means to guide the movement of the disc means between its open and closed positions.

Claim 4

The heart valve of claim 1 wherein: said retaining means for holding the disc means in assembled relation with the base comprise arm means secured to the second member, said disc means having a recess for accommodating a portion of the arm means.

Claim 5

The heart valve of claim 3 wherein: the arm means have portions on which the disc means pivots from the closed position to the open position.

Claim 6

The heart valve of claim 1 wherein: thE outer peripheral portion of the disc means is spaced inwardly from the inner wall of the base means when the disc means is in the closed position, thereby allowing limited reverse flow of blood through the opening in the base means when the disc means is in the closed position.

Claim 7

The heart valve of claim 1 including: means on the base means engageable by the disc means when the disc means is in the closed position to hold the disc means in an inclined position with respect to the plane normal to the axis of the passage in the base means.

Claim 8

The heart valve of claim 1 wherein: the pivot means have upwardly directed faces which engage portions of the disc means in the extreme open position to thereby define the maximum open position of the disc.

Claim 9

The heat valve of claim 1 wherein: the pivot means include pivot members on the base means which engage the disc means when the disc means is in the closed position to hold the disc means in an inclined position with respect to a plane normal of the axis of the opening of the base means.

Claim 10

The heart valve of claim 1 wherein: said disc means has a substrate and a Pyrolite carbon coating covering the substrate.

Claim 11

The heart valve of claim 1 wherein: the means for guiding the disc means has at least one surface with a concave curvature larger than the arc of the outer peripheral edge of the disc means.

Claim 12

The heart valve of claim 1 wherein: said pivot means comprise pairs of pivot members on the first member of the base means for pivoting the disc about an axis located between the diameter of the disc means and an outer peripheral edge portion of the disc means.

Claim 13

The heart valve of claim 1 wherein: said pivot means comprise distal pivot means on the first member of the base means and proximal pivot means on the second member of the base means.

Claim 14

The heart valve of claim 12 wherein: said distal pivot means are part of the retaining means.

Claim 15

The heart valve of claim 12 wherein: said pivot means are located on the base means and positioned for pivoting the disc about an axis located between the diameter of the disc means and an outer peripheral portion of the disc means.

Claim 16

The heart valve of claim 1 wherein: said disc means and base means have Pyrolite carbon coatings.

Claim 17

A heart valve for controlling the flow of blood comprising: base means having an internal wall forming a passage through the base means, disc means selectively movable to an open position to allow flow of blood through said passage in one direction and to a closed position to restrict the flow of blood through said passage in the opposite direction, said disc means having an annular uninterrupted outer peripheral edge cooperating with said internal wall to close said passage when the disc means is in the closed position and allowing rotation of the disc means about its central axis, means attached to the base means for holding the disc means in assembled relation with the base and allowing pivotal movement of the disc means between its open position and closed position and rotational movement of the disc means relative to the axis thereof, said means for holding the disc means including means for guiding the disc means along a curved path between the open position and closed position thereof and allowing the disc means greater lateral movement when the disc means is in the open position than when the disc means is in the closed position, said base means having a first annular member connected to at least part of said means for holding and allowing pivotal movement of the disc means, and a second annular member connected to another part of the means for holding and allowing pivotal movement of the disc means, said second annular member being mounted in telescopic relation with the first annular member, and means for securing the first annular member to the second annular member.

Claim 18

A heart valve for controlling the flow of blood comprising: base means having an internal wall forming a passage through the base means, disc means selectively movable to an open position to allow flow of blood through said passage in one direction and to a closed position to restrict the flow of blood through said passage in the opposite direction, said disc means having an annular uninterrupted outer peripheral edge cooperating with said internal wall to close said passage when the disc means is in the closed position and allowing rotation of the disc means about its central axis, means attached to the base means for holding the disc means in assembled relation with the base and allowing pivotal movement of the disc means between its open position and closed position and rotational movement of the disc means relative to the axis thereof, said means for holding the disc means including means for guiding the disc means along a curved path between the open position and closed position thereof and allowing the disc means greater lateral movement when the disc means is in the open position than when the disc means is in the closed position, said base means having a first annular member connected to at least part of said means for holding and allowing pivotal movement of the disc means, and a second annular member connected to another part of the means for holding and allowing pivotal movement of the disc means, said second annular member being mounted in telescopic relation with the first annular member, and means for securing the first annular member to the second annular member.

Claim 19

The heart valve of claim 16 wherein: said means for holding the disc means in assembled relation with the base comprise side shields secured to the fiRst member, said shields having the means for guiding the disc means, said means for guiding the disc means including concave curved surfaces cooperating with the disc means to guide the movement of the disc means between its open and closed positions.

Claim 20

The heart valve of claim 17 wherein: said surfaces have a concave curvature larger than the arc of the outer peripheral edge of the disc means.

Claim 21

The heart valve of claim 16 wherein: said means for holding the disc means in assembled relation with the base comprise arm means secured to the first member, said disc means having a recess for accommodating a portion of the arm means.

Claim 22

The heart valve of claim 19 wherein: the arm means have portions on which the disc means pivots from the closed position to the open position.

Claim 23

The heart valve of claim 16 wherein: the outer peripheral portion of the disc means is spaced inwardly from the inner wall of the base means when the disc means is in the closed position, thereby allowing limited reverse flow of blood through the opening in the base means when the disc means is in the closed position.

Claim 24

The heart valve of claim 16 including: means on the base means engageable by the disc means when the disc means is in the closed position to hold the disc means in an inclined position with respect to the plane normal to the axis of the passage in the base means.

Claim 25

The heart valve of claim 16 wherein: the means for holding and allowing pivotal movement of the disc means have upwardly directed faces which engage portions of the disc means in the extreme open position to thereby define the maximum open position of the disc.

Claim 26

The heart valve of claim 16 wherein: the means for holding and allowing pivotal movement of the disc means include pivot members on the base means which engage the disc means when the disc means is in the closed position to hold the disc means in an inclined position with respect to a plane normal of the axis of the opening of the base means.

Claim 27

The heart valve of claim 16 wherein: said means for holding and allowing pivotal movement of the disc means comprise pairs of pivot members on the first member of the base means for pivoting the disc means about an axis located between the diameter of the disc means and an outer peripheral edge of the disc means.

Claim 28

The heart valve of claim 16 wherein: said means for holding and allowing pivotal movement of the disc means comprise pairs of pivot members on the first member of the base means for pivoting the disc means about an axis located between the diameter of the disc means and an outer peripheral edge of the disc means.

Claim 29

The heart valve of claim 26 wherein: said pivot means are located on the base means and positioned for pivoting the disc about an axis located between the diameter of the disc means and an outer peripheral portion of the disc means.

Claim 30

The heart valve of claim 16 wherein: said disc means and base means have Pyrolite carbon coatings.

Claim 31

A heart valve for controlling the flow of blood comprising: base means having an inner wall surrounding an opening through the base means allowing blood to flow through the base means, said base means having a first annular member, a second annular member mounted on the first annular member, means securing the first annular member to the second annular member, disc means positioned in said opening operable to selectively move to a first open position to allow the flow of blood through said opening in one direction and to a second closed position to restrict the flow of blood in the opposite direction through said opening, means for maintaining the disc means in assembled relation with the base means in a manner so that the disc means is free to rotate relative to its central axis and is free to pivot between the open position and closed position thereof, said means for maintaining the disc means in assembled relation with the base means cooperating with the disc means to hold the disc means in an inclined position witH respect to the plane normal to the axis of the opening in the base means when the disc means is in the closed position, said means for maintaining the disc means in assembled relation with the base means comprising first means secured to the first member of the base means and located on one side of the disc means engageable with said disc means during movement of the disc means from the closed position to the open position for controlling the pivotal movement of the disc means, second means secured to the second member of the base means and located on the opposite side of said disc means contacting said disc means during movement of the disc means from the open position to the closed position, said second means having fulcrum surfaces cooperating with said disc means during the closing movement to provide pivotal movement of the disc means about a location offset from the diameter of the disc means and spaced inwardly from a portion of the peripheral edge of the disc means and allowing rotation of the disc means relative to its central axis, and third means having surfaces for guiding the disc means along a curved path between the open position and closed position thereof and allowing the disc means greater lateral movement when the disc means is in the open position than when the disc means is in the closed position.

Claim 32

A heart valve for controlling the flow of blood comprising: base means having an inner wall surrounding an opening through the base means allowing blood to flow through the base means, said base means having a first annular member, a second annular member mounted on the first annular member, means securing the first annular member to the second annular member, disc means positioned in said opening operable to selectively move to a first open position to allow the flow of blood through said opening in one direction and to a second closed position to restrict the flow of blood in the opposite direction through said opening, means for maintaining the disc means in assembled relation with the base means in a manner so that the disc means is free to rotate relative to its central axis and is free to pivot between the open position and closed position thereof, said means for maintaining the disc means in assembled relation with the base means cooperating with the disc means to hold the disc means in an inclined position witH respect to the plane normal to the axis of the opening in the base means when the disc means is in the closed position, said means for maintaining the disc means in assembled relation with the base means comprising first means secured to the first member of the base means and located on one side of the disc means engageable with said disc means during movement of the disc means from the closed position to the open position for controlling the pivotal movement of the disc means, second means secured to the second member of the base means and located on the opposite side of said disc means contacting said disc means during movement of the disc means from the open position to the closed position, said second means having fulcrum surfaces cooperating with said disc means during the closing movement to provide pivotal movement of the disc means about a location offset from the diameter of the disc means and spaced inwardly from a portion of the peripheral edge of the disc means and allowing rotation of the disc means relative to its central axis, and third means having surfaces for guiding the disc means along a curved path between the open position and closed position thereof and allowing the disc means greater lateral movement when the disc means is in the open position than when the disc means is in the closed position.

Claim 33

The heart valve of claim 29 wherein: the third means are means located on opposite sides of the base means, said last means projected upwardly and curved inwardly and having an inside surface following a spiral path larger than the curvature of the outer peripheral edge of the disc means.

Claim 34

The heart valve of claim 30 wherein: the spiral path on the inside surface approaches the curvature of the outer peripheral edge of the disc means when the disc means is in the closed position.

Claim 35

The heart valve of claim 29 wherein: the second means includes a pair of legs projected into said opening, each leg having a fulcrum surface.

Claim 36

The heart valve of claim 29 wherein: said disc means has an outer skin of Pyrolite carbon.

Claim 37

The heart valve of claim 29 wherein: said disc means has an annular uninterrupted outer peripheral edge spaced inwardly from the inner wall of the base means when the disc is in the closed position, thereby providing an annular space between the outer peripheral edge and the inner wall allowing limited annular reverse flow of blood through the annular space when the disc means is in the closed position.

Claim 38

The heart valve of claim 29 wherein: the disc means has an annular curved wall spaced inwardly from the outer peripheral edge of the disc means, said first means of the means for maintaining the disc means in assembled relation with the base being engageable with said wall during movement of the disc means from the closed position to the open position.

Claim 39

The heart valve of claim 29 wherein: the first means of the means for maintaining the disc means in assembled relation with the base means comprises a pair of inwardly directed members, said members having portions engageable with said disc means during movement of the disc means from the closed position to the open position.

Claim 40

The heart valve of claim 29 wherein: said base means has an outer skin of Pyrolite carbon and said disc means has an outer skin of Pyrolite carbon.

Claim 41

The heart valve of claim 29 wherein: one of said first or second members has at least one inwardly directed stop means engageable with the disc means when the disc means is in the closed position.

Claim 42

The heart valve of claim 29 wherein: said means for holding and allowing pivotal movement of the disc means provides for pivoting of the disc means about an axis located between the diameter of the disc means and an outer peripheral edge of the disc means.