Abstract: Double-leaflet heart valves having an annular valve body and a pair of leaflets which may be arcuate or flat in cross section. Guides protrude oppositely from the leaflets and are received in complementary depressions in the interior wall surface of the annular valve body at generally diametrically opposite locations. The depressions are preferably elongated so that, as the leaflets pivot between the open and closed positions, the guides move from one end of the elongated depressions to the other. Eccentric pivot axes provide for quick response of the leaflets, and small rounded knobs are received in the depressions which assure the alignment is maintained.

Abstract: Double-leaflet heart valves having improved flow through the orifice defined by an annular valve body include a pair of leaflets which may be arcuate or flat in cross section. Guides protrude oppositely from the leaflets and are received in complementary depressions in the interior wall surface of a pair of standards which extend downstream from the annular valve body at generally diametrically opposite locations. The depressions are preferably elongated so that, as the leaflets pivot between the open and closed positions, the guides move from one end of the elongated depressions to the other. Eccentric pivot axes provide for quick response of the leaflets, and the location of the depressions in the standards moves the leaflets out of the annular valve body, reducing resistance to the free flow of blood therethrough.

Abstract: A heart valve has an elliptical occluder mounted for pivoting in an annular heart valve body with a circular passageway between an open position to allow blood flow through the passageway and a closed position to block blood flow. A pair of ears extend from the occluder into a pair of opposed pie-shaped depressions in the interior wall of the valve body so that the relative rotation of the ears along the verticies of the depressions defines an eccentric pivot axis. The occluder seats in its closed position against a lip which protrudes inward of the interior wall on the major side of the eccentric axis.

Abstract: A method for fabricating a ceramic prosthesis of high aluminum oxide suite for the tibial plateau of a knee joint with the superior (upper) portion of the prosthesis being of a high density Al.sub.2 O.sub.3 having a very low porosity and the inferior (lower) portion being of high density Al.sub.2 O.sub.3 having a high degree of porosity capable of accepting bone growth. The method of fabricating the prosthesis comprises mixing a powdered batch of high aluminum oxide material to produce a viscous slip, adding a foaming agent to the slip, adding a catalyst to the slip to decompose the foaming agent, infiltrating the slip into a sponge, drying the composite, producing a planar surface on the porous layer, fabricating a second denser layer, placing a slurry between the two layers, drying and sintering the laminate.

Abstract: A ceramic prosthesis of high aluminum oxide suitable for the tibial plateau of a knee joint with the superior (upper) portion of the prosthesis being of a high density AL.sub.2 O.sub.3 having a very low porosity and the inferior (lower) portion being of high density AL.sub.2 O.sub.3 having a high degree of porosity capable of accepting bone growth.