Abstract: A mechanical prosthetic heart valve, includes an annular support on which at least two movable flaps and several articular extensions are arranged in an articulated manner. Each flap includes a central part framed by two lateral wings that each cooperate with an articular extension by way of an end portion that has an articulation facet. The two articulation facets of each flap together make up a surface area of less than 5% of the total outer surface area of the flap.

Abstract: A mechanical prosthetic heart valve, includes an annular support (12) on which at least two movable flaps (18, 20, 22) and several articular extensions (32, 34, 36) are arranged in an articulated manner. Each flap includes a central part (38) framed by two lateral wings that each cooperate with an articular extension by way of an end portion that has an articulation facet. The two articulation facets of each flap together make up a surface area of less than 5% of the total outer surface area of the flap.

Abstract: An improved trileaflet mechanical heart valve 100 can include an improved leaflet 110. The valve 100 and leaflet 110 provide improved flow characteristics, minimize blood clotting behind the leaflets, and provide more natural opening and closing times. The valve can include a valve housing 105 which contains pivot/hinge mechanism (130, 200, and 300) for allowing rotation of and retention of the leaflets 110. The valve housing 105 can also be solid or include windows or openings 125 which allows for washing of the pivot/hinge mechanism (130, 200, and 300) as well as the leaflets 110. The housing 105 preferably has a top surface that is scalloped shaped when viewed from the side such that the wetted area is reduced. The novel leaflets 110 are airfoil-like having a complex S-shaped curvature on their outer surface. This novel geometry, when combined with the location of the leaflet's pivot axis, causes a tendency for the leaflets 110 to rotate towards the closed position.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an improved trileaflet mechanical heart valve 100 and an improved leaflet 110 for use with such valve. The valve 100 and leaflet 110 of the present invention provide improved flow characteristics, minimize blood clotting behind the leaflets, and provide more natural opening and closing times. The valve includes a valve housing 105 which contains pivot/hinge mechanism (130, 200, and 300) for allowing rotation of and retention of the leaflets 110. The valve housing 105 also includes windows or openings 125 which allows for complete washing of the pivot/hinge mechanism (130, 200, and 300) as well as the leaflets 110. The novel leaflets 110 are airfoil-like having a complex S-shaped curvature on their outer surface. This novel geometry, when combined with the location of the leaflet's pivot axis, causes a tendency for the leaflet 110 to rotate towards the closed position.

Abstract: An improved trileaflet mechanical heart valve 100 can include an improved leaflet 110. The valve 100 and leaflet 110 provide improved flow characteristics, minimize blood clotting behind the leaflets, and provide more natural opening and closing times. The valve can include a valve housing 105 which contains pivot/hinge mechanism (130, 200, and 300) for allowing rotation of and retention of the leaflets 110. The valve housing 105 can also include windows or openings 125 which allows for complete washing of the pivot/hinge mechanism (130, 200, and 300) as well as the leaflets 110. The novel leaflets 110 are airfoil-like having a complex S-shaped curvature on their outer surface. This novel geometry, when combined with the location of the leaflet's pivot axis, causes a tendency for the leaflets 110 to rotate towards the closed position.

Abstract: The invention relates to a mechanical valve prosthesis that includes a base having an external portion forming a suture ring, and an internal portion forming a rim, in which a blood flow can move in a main flow direction (F), as well as at least two closing leaflets (10) which can move, under the action of the blood flow, between a closed position and an open position, and vice versa. The opening occurs in the physiological direction, that is from the axis of the rim (3) of the center of the prosthesis and thus toward the rim. A region (40) of each one of the leaflets (10) borders, in the open position, a natural wall and defines with it the peripheral duct regions (19). The region (40) of each leaflet (10) presents a zone (22) in which, in the closed position, it turns its concavity toward the rim (3). In this manner, when the leaflet (10) is in the open position, the peripheral duct regions (19) present a form which produces a beginning of closing of the valve (10) during the deceleration of the blood flow.

Abstract: A prosthetic heart valve comprising a base and at least two flaps. The valve includes means for guiding the flaps and for retaining them, said means being constituted, for each flap, by: two arcs for guiding the trailing edge of the flap; and at least one arc for guiding the leading edge of the flap. The invention is applicable to the manufacture of prosthetic heart valves.

Abstract: Total heart prosthesis including a casing implantable in the pericardial cavity, the geometry of which is similar to that of the natural heart, with a motor device inside the casing which essentially includes two membranes, one of which works during the elongation stroke within a space defining the right ventricle and the other of which works during the deformation stroke within a space defining the left ventricle. Blood bags are enclosed within the right and left ventricular spaces adapted to be connected to vessels of the circulatory system of a patient. The membrane of the right ventricle and a support associated therewith are mounted within the prosthesis casing such that the movement of the membrane during the elongation stroke (systole) is broken down into two phases, one of which is a displacement without elongation and the other, only, is accompanied with an elongation.

Abstract: A complete artificial heart is provided including a pericardial pumping module and an extra-pericardial pumping module connected together by a functional connection. In the invention, the mechanism of the extra-pericardial pumping module actuates the pericardial pumping module through gas displacement.

Abstract: Extra-pericardial module for total cardinal prosthesis with two pumps joined together by a functional link. The extra-pericardial module comprises a rigid casing, inside which two pushing plates are disposed. The pushing plates are facing each other and divide the inside of the casing into an inner pumping cavity and into two peripheral chambers inside which are disposed the actuation devices for pushing plates. Thus, it is obtained a single unit comprising, inside of the casing, the pushing plates and their actuators.

Abstract: This invention relates to a total artificial heart intended to replace a diseased human heart. According to the invention, this prosthesis comprises a pericardial module and an abdominal module, incorporating their own electro-mechanical pumping system and connected to each other by a blood and gaseous link. The pericardial module acts as right-hand part of the heart and the abdominal module as left-hand part of the heart. This abdominal module is connected to the abdominal aorta by a connection.

Abstract: A device for a traumatic access to a blood vessel of a living organism through the cutaneous surface thereof. The device includes in combination an implantable device comprising a tubular segment for access to the blood vessel; a valving element for the tubular segment; a mechanism for controlling the blood flow through the valving element; a cover for sealing the proximal end of the tubular segment in the absence of the blood control mechanism; and a porous coating adapted to be colonized by tissue ingrowth and at least partially surrounding the implantable device. The porous coating is formed from a carbon-carbon composite material comprising a reinforcement formed from a carbon fiber porous substrate embedded in a carbonaceous matrix design to densify only partially the fiber substrate while connecting the carbon fibers together.

Abstract: An apparatus whose case (12) has advantageously the general shape of a pen, for the external measurement of the heart beat frequency of a patient, comprising: at least one dynamometer (10) intended, during operation, to be held pressed in the anatomical gutter of the radial artery with a substantially constant force less than that created by the systolic pressure of the blood flow in the radial artery; means for detecting the maxima of the flow; computing means for determining the heart beat rate; and means (11) for displaying this rate.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a total cardiac prothesis destined to replace the sick human heart.According to the invention, this prothesis comprises a pericardial unit (3) and an extra-pericardial unit (4), including their own electro-mechanical pumping system and interconnected through a connecting line for blood and gas (5).The pericardial unit acts as the right heart and the extra-pericardial unit as the left heart.

Abstract: The invention prosthesis is formed by a biventricular monoblock unit which comprises a sealed case implantable in the pericardial cavity. The actuating device is formed by two membranes working respectively by elongation and by deformation, and which constitute, with the corresponding internal face of the case, respectively, the right and left ventricular spaces having preferably the same volume but totally different geometry. The actuating device is associated with supplying apparatus which provide it with supply pressures subtantially equivalent to the physiological values of the ventricular pressures. The prosthesis is furthermore associated with a mechanism for regulating the cardiac flow.