Prosthetic heart valves including pre-stressed fibers
A prosthetic heart valve includes a base and one or more heart valve leaflets. At least a portion of the leaflet including a composite material that contains a polymer substrate and a pre-stressed reinforcement element at least partially disposed in the polymer substrate.
1. A prosthetic heart valve, comprising:
a base; and
one or more heart valve leaflets, at least a portion of the leaflet comprising a composite material that includes a polymer substrate and a pre-stressed reinforcement element at least partially disposed in the polymer substrate,
wherein the pre-stressed reinforcement element is subject to a tensile force or compressive force of 0.1 pound-force to 10 pound-force when coupled to the polymer substrate.
2. The prosthetic heart valve of claim 1 , wherein the pre-stressed reinforcement element is bonded to the polymer substrate at two or more discrete locations along a length of the pre-stressed reinforcement element.
3. The prosthetic heart valve of claim 1 , wherein the polymer substrate and the pre-stressed reinforcement element comprise different materials.
4. The prosthetic heart valve of claim 1 , wherein the polymer substrate comprises at least two polymer layers and the pre-stressed reinforcement element is disposed between the at least two polymer layers.
5. The prosthetic heart valve of claim 1 , wherein the pre-stressed reinforcement element comprises a metal.
6. The prosthetic heart valve of claim 5 , wherein the pre-stressed reinforcement element comprises nitinol.
7. The prosthetic heart valve of claim 1 , wherein the pre-stressed reinforcement element comprises a polymer.
8. The prosthetic heart valve of claim 7 , wherein the pre-stressed reinforcement element comprises polyetheretherketone (PEEK) or polyethersulfone (PES).
9. The prosthetic heart valve of claim 1 , wherein the polymer substrate comprises polyisobutylene polyurethane (PIB-PUR).
10. The prosthetic heart valve of claim 1 , wherein the pre-stressed reinforcement element is configured to be in tension when the polymer substrate is in a non-strained state.
11. The prosthetic heart valve of claim 1 , wherein the pre-stressed reinforcement element is configured to be in tension, and at least a portion of the polymer substrate is configured to be in compression.
12. The prosthetic heart valve of claim 1 , wherein the pre-stressed reinforcement element comprises a plurality of fibers.
13. The prosthetic heart valve of claim 1 , wherein the pre-stressed reinforcement element comprises a mesh.