US 12,329,880 B2
Heat treating to improve synthetic leaflet motion and coaptation
Jay Reimer, Saint Paul, MN (US); and Yousef F. Alkhatib, Edina, MN (US)
Assigned to St. Jude Medical, Cardiology Division, Inc., St. Paul, MN (US)
Filed by St. Jude Medical, Cardiology Division, Inc., St. Paul, MN (US)
Filed on Oct. 7, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/495,955.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/088,617, filed on Oct. 7, 2020.
Prior Publication US 2022/0105238 A1, Apr. 7, 2022
Int. Cl. A61L 27/50 (2006.01)
CPC A61L 27/50 (2013.01) [A61F 2250/0082 (2013.01); A61L 2430/20 (2013.01)] 19 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
15. A prosthetic heart valve, comprising:
a support structure; and
a valve assembly attached to the support structure, the valve assembly including a cuff and a plurality of prosthetic leaflets, each leaflet in the plurality of prosthetic leaflets being composed of a synthetic polymeric material and having an attachment edge attached to the support structure and a free edge, the plurality of prosthetic leaflets having a closed condition in which the plurality of prosthetic leaflets coapt to restrict blood from flowing in a retrograde direction through the support structure, and an open condition in which the plurality of prosthetic leaflets allow blood to flow in an antegrade direction through the support structure, the plurality of prosthetic leaflets not having a condition which purposefully enables blood to flow in the retrograde direction through the support structure,
wherein the synthetic material of one of the prosthetic leaflets in the plurality of prosthetic leaflets includes a first heat set fold or crease extending in an arcuate direction substantially matching a curvature of the attachment edge of the one prosthetic leaflet and a second heat set fold or crease extending only from the first fold or crease toward the free edge to assist the one prosthetic leaflet in transitioning between the closed condition and the open condition in a particular and repeatable desired movement.