US 12,144,730 B2
Heart valves with increased effective orifice area
Derrick Johnson, Orange, CA (US); Van Huynh, Anaheim, CA (US); and Qinggang Zeng, Mission Viejo, CA (US)
Assigned to EDWARDS LIFESCIENCES CORPORATION, Irvine, CA (US)
Filed by Edwards Lifesciences Corporation, Irvine, CA (US)
Filed on Mar. 7, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/653,843.
Application 15/591,915 is a division of application No. 14/488,728, filed on Sep. 17, 2014, granted, now 10,441,415, issued on Oct. 15, 2019.
Application 17/653,843 is a continuation of application No. 15/591,915, filed on May 10, 2017, granted, now 11,266,499, issued on Mar. 8, 2022.
Claims priority of provisional application 61/880,688, filed on Sep. 20, 2013.
Prior Publication US 2022/0183832 A1, Jun. 16, 2022
Int. Cl. A61F 2/24 (2006.01)
CPC A61F 2/2418 (2013.01) [A61F 2/2409 (2013.01); A61F 2/2412 (2013.01); A61F 2210/00 (2013.01); A61F 2250/006 (2013.01); A61F 2310/00389 (2013.01)] 21 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A prosthetic heart valve, comprising:
a first rod-like undulating wireform formed in a continuous shape defining alternating cusps and commissures and having a cloth covering, wherein the commissures extend generally axially in an outflow direction and define inverted U-shaped commissure posts and each cusp is arcuate and extends in an inflow direction spanning a distance between each two commissures, the first wireform circumscribing a flow orifice therewithin for blood flow; and
a plurality of separate flexible leaflets having outer cusp edges that extend over an outflow side of the cusps of the first wireform and attach to the cloth covering at the cusps, adjacent leaflets being secured to each other at the commissures, each of the leaflets having a free edge that, when implanted, alternately moves into and out of the flow orifice from fluid forces associated with cardiac blood flow cycles, wherein the free edge of each leaflet coapts with the free edges of the other leaflets to close the valve and the attachment of each leaflet over the outflow side of the first wireform cusps maximizes an effective orifice area by eliminating any impediment to flow caused by the leaflets projecting inward from the first wireform at the cusps.