Abstract: Disclosed is a heart valve of the pivotal bi-leaflet or single occluder type having improved washing characteristics in the region of the support arrangement. The leaflets include cylindrical, or other circular cross-sectional, pivot enlargements at opposite sides of the leaflets, and the valve body includes a number of projections extending inward from its sidewall. The leaflets are mounted in the valve body such that the projections encircle the pivot enlargements at the opposing ends of the leaflets, thereby confining their movement to substantially pivotal rotation between open and closed positions. The projections are spaced from one another, with the region between adjacent projections defining channels through which blood can flow. Some blood flows through these channels both when the valve is in its open position and its closed position, thereby providing blood flow across the pivot enlargements and projections and, thus, minimizing stagnation in the region of the support arrangement.