TRANSCATHETER HEART VALVES WITH IMPROVED BLOOD FLOW

Abstract

A prosthetic valve includes a valve frame, an outer sealing frame, and leaflets positioned about a flow channel. Each leaflet includes two commissure ends, and a central portion positioned between the commissure ends. The leaflets are attached to form commissure regions at which commissure ends meet. The commissure regions are affixed to the valve frame, which provides openings between the commissure regions. The outer sealing frame is coupled to the valve frame such that (i) the downstream portion is spaced radially outward from the valve frame to engage and seal against the native atrioventricular valve while defining a gap between the downstream portion and the valve frame, and (ii) ventricular blood passes along radially outward facing surfaces of the leaflets and through the openings into the gap in a manner that washes out the downstream portion to reduce thrombus formation. Other implementations are also disclosed.

CPC Classifications