Prosthetic heart valve having an improved tubular seal
A tubular seal includes an outflow end region and an inflow end region. The inflow end region is a portion of a polymeric web retaining a woven fabric, wherein the woven fabric has a non-linear edge defining an interface between the inflow end region and the outflow end region.
1. A tubular seal for a prosthetic heart valve comprising:
an elastomeric polymer matrix and a woven fabric embedded within the polymer matrix, the woven fabric comprising a plurality of non-elastic fibers retained within an inflow end region of the elastomeric polymer matrix, wherein the woven fabric comprising a non-linear edge embedded within the elastomeric polymer matrix.
2. The tubular seal of claim 1 , wherein the non-linear edge of the woven fabric has a sinusoidal or scalloped shape defining an interface between the inflow end region and an outflow end region of the elastomeric polymer matrix.
3. The tubular seal of claim 2 , wherein the interface has a major radius R a that ranges from about 0.050 inches to about 0.100 inches.
4. The tubular seal of claim 2 , wherein interface has a minor radius R a that ranges from about from about 0.020 inches to about 0.040 inches.
5. The tubular seal of claim 2 , wherein the interface has a transition zone length that ranges from about 0.110 inches to about 0.160 inches.
6. The tubular seal of claim 1 , wherein the non-elastic fibers comprise a polyester.
7. The tubular seal of claim 1 , wherein the elastomeric polymer matrix comprises a polymer selected from polycarbonates, polyurethane, silicones, and combinations thereof.
8. The tubular seal of claim 1 , wherein the inflow end region comprises a first substantially uniform thickness and an outflow end region of the elastomeric polymeric matrix comprises a median thickness that is less than the first substantially uniform thickness.
9. The tubular seal of claim 1 , wherein a thickness for the inflow end region ranges from about 0.0016 inches to about 0.0023 inches, or from about 40 microns to about 60 microns.