Synthetic leaflets for heart valve repair or replacement
View Patent ↗Heart valve leaflets ( 10 ) are described that include a plurality of supports ( 350 ) within a coapting portion ( 20 ) and a substantially arcuate portion ( 30 ). The plurality of supports ( 350 ) provide the leaflet ( 10 ) with anisotropic elasticity.
1. A synthetic heart valve leaflet comprising:
a) coapting portion having a free edge;
b) a substantially arcuate portion adjacent said coapting portion, said arcuate portion having a peripheral edge; and
c) a plurality of supports within said coapting portion and said substantially arcuate portion, wherein said plurality of supports provide said leaflet with anisotropic elasticity, and wherein a region about the mid-line of said coapting portion has a thickness greater than the thickness of at least one other region of said leaflet, wherein said plurality of supports is composed of polytetrafluoroethylene.
2. A synthetic heart valve leaflet comprising:
a) a pair of opposing tabs;
b) a coapting portion extending between said pair of opposing tabs and having a free edge;
c) a substantially arcuate portion adjacent said coapting portion and having a peripheral edge; and
d) a plurality of supports extending between said pair of opposing tabs, wherein said plurality of supports provide said leaflet with anisotropic elasticity, and wherein a region about the mid-line of said coapting portion has a thickness greater than the thickness of at least one other region of said leaflet, wherein each support of said plurality of supports is increasingly arcuate from said coapting edge to said peripheral edge.
3. A synthetic heart valve leaflet comprising:
a) a pair of opposing tabs;
b) a coapting portion extending between said pair of opposing tabs and having a free edge;
c) a substantially arcuate portion adjacent said coapting portion and having a peripheral edge; and
d) a plurality of supports extending between said pair of opposing tabs, wherein said plurality of supports provide said leaflet with anisotropic elasticity, and wherein a region about the mid-line of said coapting portion has a thickness greater than the thickness of at least one other region of said leaflet, wherein said region of a greater thickness contains a movement-tracking component, and wherein said movement-tracking component is a magnetic particle.
4. A synthetic heart valve leaflet comprising:
a) pair of opposing tabs;
b) a coapting portion extending between said pair of opposing tabs and having a free edge;
c) a substantially arcuate portion adjacent said coapting portion and having a peripheral edge; and
d) a plurality of supports extending between said pair of opposing tabs, wherein said plurality of supports provide said leaflet with anisotropic elasticity, and wherein a region about the mid-line of said coapting portion has a thickness greater than the thickness of at least one other region of said leaflet, wherein the thickness of said peripheral edge is greater than the thickness of said substantially arcuate portion.