Abstract: A bi-leaflet heart valve having an improved hinge arrangement that, in combination with the disclosed curved surfaces of the leaflets, allows the valve to respond more quickly to flow reversal and minimizes fluttering of the leaflets in the open position. The leaflets are slidably and pivotally mounted in a heart valve body for movement between closed and open positions. The leaflets have notches which matingly engage complementary surfaces on pivot projections extending inward from the valve body sidewall. The shape and relationship of these complementary surfaces and the two-dimensional curvature of the leaflets provides for improved operating characteristics.

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.

Abstract: A heart valve prosthesis having an annular valve body, a pair of leaflet occluders mounted therein for pivoting and translational movement between closed and open positions. The leaflet occluders have mating diametrical edges and arcuate edges which engage the valve body when the leaflets are closed. Generally part conical mounting ears extend outwardly from the leaflet edge, adjacent the diametrical edge thereof. The ears are received in crescent-shaped recesses formed in the annular body. The recesses have opposed upstream and downstream surfaces for guiding the mounting ears during opening and closing of the leaflet.

Abstract: A heart valve prosthesis having an annular valve body, a pair of leaflet occluders mounted therein for pivoting and translational movement between closed and open positions. The leaflet occluders have mating diametrical edges and arcuate edges which engage the valve body when the leaflets are closed. Generally part spherical mounting ears extend outwardly from the leaflet edge, adjacent the diametrical edge thereof. The ears are received in crescent-shaped recesses formed in the annular body. The recesses have opposed upstream and downstream surfaces for guiding the mounting ears during opening and closing of the leaflet.

Abstract: A heart valve prosthesis having an annular valve body, a pair of leaflet occluders mounted therein for pivoting and translational movement between closed and open positions. Leaflet occluders have mating diametrical edges and arcuate edges which engage the valve body when the leaflets are closed. Generally frustoconical mounting ears extend outwardly from the leaflet edge, adjacent the diametrical edge thereof. The ears are received in recesses formed in the annular body. The recesses have an upper section extending in the direction of blood flow and a downstream section inclined thereto in a direction extending outwardly. The leaflets each have a flat upstream surface and a generally cylindrical downstream surface.

Abstract: Improved versions of heart valve prostheses include the usual generally annular body having an interior surface defining a blood flow passageway and having one or two occluders supported thereon for alternately blocking and then allowing the flow of blood in a predetermined direction. Notches are formed at opposite locations in the periphery of an occluder, and each is disposed about a pivot post that projects radially inward from the interior surface of the annular body. A pair of stops flank each pivot post, having curved surfaces at locations adjacent to the pivot posts but radially inward from the ends thereof that function as oppositely disposed fulcrums and cooperate with the pivot posts in defining the opening and closing movement of each occluder. Preferably, the pivot posts and the stop means are formed as an integral structure. Self-centering seats can be used to provide a better seal in the closed position.

Abstract: Improved versions of heart valve prostheses include the usual generally annular body having an interior surface defining a blood flow passageway and having one or two occluders supported thereon for alternately blocking and then allowing the flow of blood in a predetermined direction. Notches are formed at opposite locations in the periphery of an occluder, and each is disposed about a pivot post that projects radially inward from the interior surface of the annular body. A pair of stops flank each pivot post, having curved surfaces at locations adjacent to the pivot posts but radially inward from the ends thereof that function as oppositely disposed fulcrums and cooperate with the pivot posts in defining the opening and closing movement of each occluder. Preferably, the pivot posts and the stop means are formed as an integral structure. Self-centering seats can be used to provide a better seal in the closed position.

Abstract: A percutaneous access device having at least one substantially rectilinear passageway that extends between the internal region of a living body and the region exterior of the body when the device is anchored therein. A second passageway intersects with the first so as to provide communication between the internal region and the exterior region through the lower portion of the first rectilinear passageway and the second passageway. Disposed within the rectilinear passageway is a plunger having a sealing tip on the distal end thereof and access to the internal region of the body is achieved by withdrawing the sealing tip of the plunger past the point where the second passageway intersects the rectilinear passageway. The plunger shaft has a non-uniform cross section along its length and the exterior opening of the rectilinear passageway is in the form of a keyway so that the plunger is movable within the rectilinear passageway only upon selective rotation of the plunger.

Abstract: In a dental prosthesis having a post stem, a neck and a head, the stem has a terminal segment at the end opposite the head and an intermediate segment with an uneven surface between the terminal portion and the head. The radial extremities of the uneven surface extend precisely to the contour of a right circular cone tapering in the terminal direction, and the radial extremities of the outer surface of terminal portion extend radially outward beyond the contour of this cone. A socket is drilled into the alveolar bone using a drill bit having the same conical taper that the extremities of the uneven surface follow. The prosthesis is inserted into the socket with some pressure so that the terminal portion deforms the alveolar bone only at the deep end of the socket, locking the prosthesis into the socket and bringing the extremities of the uneven surface into firm surface contact with the wall of the socket.

Abstract: Access to internal regions of a living body is achieved by a device, a movable plug and an adaptor. An access tube insertable in a living body is appropriately anchored within the body. The access tube extends above the skin and provides a first passageway for body fluids which is blocked by the movable plug. The adaptor, when linked to the access device, provides a second passageway which allows relocation of the plug to a fluid access position whereat communication is established between the conduit and an external outlet of the adaptor.

Abstract: Methods are provided for fully encasing radio-opaque markers in pyrocarbon prosthetic members. Inserts having a pyrolytic carbon portion joined to a radio-opaque marker are affixed to a mandrel surface so that the marker extends thereabove. Pyrocarbon sufficient to encase the marker is deposited on the mandrel, the mandrel is removed, and the deposited layer of pyrocarbon is finished to form the prosthetic member.

Abstract: An apparatus is disclosed for preparing a jawbone or the like for implantation of a dental implant. After exposing a selected area of the jawbone, accurately located guide holes are formed in the jawbone to receive a drill guide which facilitates forming a precise elongated slot by a burr between the guide holes, after which the slot is lengthened to include the initially formed guide holes and a properly configured dental implant may be pressed firmly into the slot.

Abstract: Springs are used to form cardiovascular grafts.A tightly wound spring coated with carbon while in a stretched position will have a biocompatible interior surface which provides an unobstructed passageway for blood. Fabric sleeves may be employed around springs to improve the fluid integrity of the interior surfaces.Springs may also be used to join blood vessel segments by puncturing one segment of the blood vessel with a first end of a spring, coiling the spring therearound, puncturing a second segment of the blood vessel with a second end of the spring and coiling the spring therearound.

Abstract: A heart valve prosthesis having an annular valve body defining a central passageway which is closed by a pair of pivoting leaflets. Projections extending laterally from each of the leaflets are received in socket means provided at generally diametrically opposite locations in the interior wall of the valve body. Slot portions of the socket means guide the pivotal movement of the leaflets. The pivotal axis of each leaflet is eccentrically located and moves relative to the valve body during opening and closing motion.

Abstract: A Bileaflet Heart Valve where two leaflets open and close a cylindrical passageway through an annular body. An improved pivot for the leaflets uses a pair of generally triangular depressions in opposed supports that extend above the body. Each depression includes a curved edge bridging two straight edges that converge to a curved vertex. Elongated guides extend from opposite ends of each leaflet and define the pivotal axis. Each guide pivots on its rounded end in the region of the curved vertex as the leaflets open and close the passageway.

Abstract: Multistrand carbon coated sutures comprising a plurality of small diameter fibers having a tensile modulus of at least about 2.times.10.sup.6 psi, and a thin, smooth, adherent, isotropic carbon coating on the substrate fiber having particular properties including a tensile fracture strain of at least about 5%.

Abstract: A heart valve prosthesis has an annular valve body with a central circular passageway and a pair of valve leaflets supported for pivotal movement between closed and open positions. Guides formed with spheroidal surfaces project in opposite directions along the pivotal axis of each leaflet and are received in spheroidal depressions in a pair of upstanding, diametrically opposite supports. The supports are formed with stops outside of the depressions which contact the distal surface of the leaflets at a region apart from the spheroidal guides and determine the open position.

Abstract: A tubular vascular graft is attached to a rigid tubular portion of an implantable prosthetic device by assembling the vascular graft plus a surrounding heat-shrinkable polymeric sleeve on the rigid tubular portion. The polymeric sleeve, which may be TEFLON-FEP, extends a short distance past the free end of the tube and upon heating shrinks into firm compressive contact with the vascular graft and provides a smooth transition in stiffness between the end of the rigid tube and the soft, flexible graft.

Abstract: Artificial joint prostheses comprising an artificial graphite substrate of predetermined orthopedic shape, a pyrolytic carbon coating on said substrate, and a metallic band circumferentially compressively engaged with the exterior surface of said carbon coated substrate in a plane generally orthogonal to the loading axis and adjacent the articulating contact surface of the prosthesis.

Abstract: Artificial vascular and patch grafts comprising a flexible elastic fabric substrate of predetermined shape fabricated from small diameter fiber having a tensile modulus of at least about 2.times.10.sup.6 psi, and a thin, smooth, adherent, isotropic carbon coating on the substrate fiber having particular properties including a tensile fracture strain of at least about 5%.