Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 17
Claim 1
Independent Claim
185 words
A prosthetic one-way heart valve comprising: a generally annular valve body having a central opening defining a blood flow passageway, a disc within said valve body and having a periphery substantially complementary to the periphery of said opening, means supporting said disc for pivotal movement with respect to said body about an axis extending substantially along a centerline of said disc, vane means projecting from one face of said disc in a direction opposite to the flow direction through the valve, said vane means being responsive to fluid flow in the flow direction of the valve for causing said disc to pivot to a position in which the valve is open, and baffle means carried by said valve body adjacent to the face of said disc opposite the face from which said vane means project, said baffle means extending across said opening and being arranged to direct fluid flowing in the no-flow direction of said valve against the portion of said disc which moves toward the flow direction when the valve opens, thereby pivoting said disc to a position in which the valve is closed.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
185 words
A prosthetic one-way heart valve comprising: a generally annular valve body having a central opening defining a blood flow passageway, a disc within said valve body and having a periphery substantially complementary to the periphery of said opening, means supporting said disc for pivotal movement with respect to said body about an axis extending substantially along a centerline of said disc, vane means projecting from one face of said disc in a direction opposite to the flow direction through the valve, said vane means being responsive to fluid flow in the flow direction of the valve for causing said disc to pivot to a position in which the valve is open, and baffle means carried by said valve body adjacent to the face of said disc opposite the face from which said vane means project, said baffle means extending across said opening and being arranged to direct fluid flowing in the no-flow direction of said valve against the portion of said disc which moves toward the flow direction when the valve opens, thereby pivoting said disc to a position in which the valve is closed.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
68 words
A prosthetic one-way valve as defined in claim 1 wherein said body carries means for limiting the pivotal movement of said disc to an acute angle between a position in which it is arranged at a relatively small acute angle to the plane of said valve body and a position in which it is arranged at a relatively large acute angle to the plane of said valve body.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
27 words
A prosthetic one-way valve as defined in claim 1 wherein the portions of said disc on opposite sides of said pivot axis are of substantially equal weight.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
27 words
A prosthetic one-way valve as defined in claim 1 wherein the portions of said disc on opposite sides of said pivot axis are of substantially equal size.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
27 words
A prosthetic one-way valve as defined in claim 1 including needle-pierceable means surrounding said body by means of which the valve can be sutured to a heart.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
41 words
A prosthetic one-way valve as defined in claim 1 wherein said means for pivotally supporting said disc includes a shaft extending through said disc in the plane of the latter, the ends of said shaft being mounted in said valve body.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
55 words
A prosthetic one-way valve as defined in claim 1 wherein said means for pivotally supporting said disc includes two pairs of protrusions projecting from said valve body into said central opening, said pairs being at diametrically opposed locations, and the peripheral edge of said disc being loosely accommodated between each of said pairs of protrusions.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
44 words
A prosthetic one-way valve as defined in claim 7 including retaining fingers mounted on said valve body and projecting into the path of pivotal movement of said disc so as to limit that movement and prevent said disc and valve body from becoming disassembled.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
63 words
A prosthetic one-way valve as defined in claim 7 wherein said disc is bent twice to provide two parallel but offset portions on opposite sides of said pivot axis joined by a central portion arranged at an angle to said two parallel portions, and a third protrusion associated with each of said pairs of protrusions for limiting the pivotal movement of said disc.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
32 words
A prosthetic one-way valve as defined in claim 1 wherein said vane means is carried only by the portion of said disc which moves toward the flow direction when the valve opens.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
40 words
A prosthetic one-way valve as defined in claim 1 wherein said vane means is carried by the portions of said disc on both sides of said pivot axis, said vane means being arranged symmetrically with respect to said pivot axis.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
35 words
A prosthetic one-way valve as defined in claim 1 wherein said vane means comprises a plurality of upstanding ridges arranged at angles to each other so as to define a pocket for catching flowing fluid.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
29 words
A prosthetic one-way valve as defined in claim 12 wherein said ridges are spaced from each other to define openings through which fluid can flow out of the pocket.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
27 words
A prosthetic one-way valve as defined in claim 1 wherein said means for pivotally supporting said disc also support said disc for rotation in its own plane.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
32 words
A prosthetic one-way valve as defined in claim 14 wherein said vane means is so arranged on said disc that it is symmetrical with respect to any pivot axis of said disc.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
72 words
A prosthetic one-way vale as defined in claim 1 including additional baffle means carried by said valve body adjacent to the face of said disc from which said vane means project, said additional baffle means extending across said opening and being arranged to direct fluid flowing in the flow direction of the valve toward said vane means, thereby helping to pivot said disc to a position in which the valve is open.