Assembly of heart valve by installing occluder in annular value body

Claim 1

A method of making a prosthetic heart valve having occluder means supported for movement between an open position and a closed position in an annular pyrocarbon valve body having an interior passageway of generally circular cross section for blood flow therethrough wherein engaging means on the interior surface of said valve body supports said occluder means for said movement, which method comprises distending said valve body by the application to the exterior surface of said valve body of two oppositely directed compressive forces, which forces are aligned along a diameter located essentially perpendicular to a line interconnecting said valve body engaging means, said forces being exerted over certain diametrically opposite arcuate surface regions of the exterior surface of said annular valve body each equal to at least about 60 degrees of arc so as to place said certain exterior surface regions in compression while distending said annular valve body from its unstressed generally circular configuration to cause said engaging means to move sufficiently far apart from each other to permit said occluder means to be installed, installing said occluder means in said distended valve body so as to be supported by said engaging means, and removing said oppositely directed compressive forces to permit said valve body to return to its unstressed generally circular configuration with said occluder means operatively supported therewithin.

Claim 2

A method of making a prosthetic heart valve having occluder means supported for movement between an open position and a closed position in an annular pyrocarbon valve body having an interior passageway of generally circular cross section for blood flow therethrough wherein engaging means on the interior surface of said valve body supports said occluder means for said movement, which method comprises distending said valve body by the application to the exterior surface of said valve body of two oppositely directed compressive forces, which forces are aligned along a diameter located essentially perpendicular to a line interconnecting said valve body engaging means, said forces being exerted over certain diametrically opposite arcuate surface regions of the exterior surface of said annular valve body each equal to at least about 60 degrees of arc so as to place said certain exterior surface regions in compression while distending said annular valve body from its unstressed generally circular configuration to cause said engaging means to move sufficiently far apart from each other to permit said occluder means to be installed, installing said occluder means in said distended valve body so as to be supported by said engaging means, and removing said oppositely directed compressive forces to permit said valve body to return to its unstressed generally circular configuration with said occluder means operatively supported therewithin.

Claim 16

A method of assembling a prosthetic heart valve having an annular valve body and at least one occluder which occluder interengages with support means formed on the interior surface of said valve body to support said occluder in a position to allow its movement between an open position and a closed position, which method comprises applying oppositely directed compressive forces to two exterior regions of the curvilinear exterior surface of said annular valve body which regions each extend for at least about 120° of arc and for an axial distance equal to at least about one-half the axial length of the valve body, said forces being applied over said at least about 120° of arc of said exterior surface regions and being of such a magnitude so as to distend said annular valve body from an unstressed generally circular annular configuration so as to elongate said body in regions where said occluder support means are located, while placing major exterior surface regions of said valve body in compression, installing said occluder in said distended valve body, and gradually removing said oppositely directed compressive forces to allow said valve body to return to its unstressed generally circular annular configuration with said occluder secured in interengagement within said valve body.

Claim 17

A method of assembling a prosthetic heart valve having an annular valve body and at least one occluder which occluder interengages with support means formed on the interior surface of said valve body to support said occluder in a position to allow its movement between an open position and a closed position, which method comprises applying oppositely directed compressive forces to two exterior regions of the curvilinear exterior surface of said annular valve body which regions each extend for at least about 120° of arc and for an axial distance equal to at least about one-half the axial length of the valve body, said forces being applied over said at least about 120° of arc of said exterior surface regions and being of such a magnitude so as to distend said annular valve body from an unstressed generally circular annular configuration so as to elongate said body in regions where said occluder support means are located, while placing major exterior surface regions of said valve body in compression, installing said occluder in said distended valve body, and gradually removing said oppositely directed compressive forces to allow said valve body to return to its unstressed generally circular annular configuration with said occluder secured in interengagement within said valve body.

Claim 18

A method of assembling a prosthetic heart valve having a pair of occluders supported for pivotal movement between an open position and a closed position in an annular pyrocarbon valve body having an interior passageway of generally circular cross section for blood flow therethrough wherein slot means in the interior surface of said valve body support each said occluder for such pivotal movement, which method comprises distending said valve body by the application to the exterior surface of said valve body of two oppositely directed compressive forces, which forces are aligned along a diameter of said valve body located essentially perpendicular to a line interconnecting said valve body slot means for each said occluder, said forces being exerted over certain diametrically opposite arcuate surface regions of the exterior surface of said annular valve body each equal to at least about 60 degrees of arc so as to place said certain exterior surface regions in compression while distending said annular valve body from its unstressed generally circular configuration to cause said slot means to move sufficiently far apart from each other to permit each of said occluders to be installed, said oppositely directed compressive forces being applied via arcuate resilient pad means which contact said exterior surface of said valve body and which have rigid metal backing members of a curvature matched to that of said valve body in its distended condition, installing said occluders in said distended valve body so as to be supported by said slot means, and removing said oppositely directed compressive forces to permit said valve body to return to its unstressed generally circular configuration with said occluders operatively pivotally supported therewithin.

Claim 19

A method of assembling a prosthetic heart valve having a pair of occluders supported for pivotal movement between an open position and a closed position in an annular pyrocarbon valve body having an interior passageway of generally circular cross section for blood flow therethrough wherein slot means in the interior surface of said valve body support each said occluder for such pivotal movement, which method comprises distending said valve body by the application to the exterior surface of said valve body of two oppositely directed compressive forces, which forces are aligned along a diameter of said valve body located essentially perpendicular to a line interconnecting said valve body slot means for each said occluder, said forces being exerted over certain diametrically opposite arcuate surface regions of the exterior surface of said annular valve body each equal to at least about 60 degrees of arc so as to place said certain exterior surface regions in compression while distending said annular valve body from its unstressed generally circular configuration to cause said slot means to move sufficiently far apart from each other to permit each of said occluders to be installed, said oppositely directed compressive forces being applied via arcuate resilient pad means which contact said exterior surface of said valve body and which have rigid metal backing members of a curvature matched to that of said valve body in its distended condition, installing said occluders in said distended valve body so as to be supported by said slot means, and removing said oppositely directed compressive forces to permit said valve body to return to its unstressed generally circular configuration with said occluders operatively pivotally supported therewithin.