Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 23
Claim 1
Independent Claim
94 words
A valve comprising: a valve body having an inflow end, an outflow end, and an inner wall extending between the inflow end and the outflow end forming an orifice having a longitudinal dimension along an axis extending between the inflow end and the outflow end; at least one flexible leaflet having an analytic shape in a selected position coupled to the inner wall along an attachment curve; and wherein a portion of the inner wall intersecting the attachment curve has a noncylindrical shape in a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the orifice.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
94 words
A valve comprising: a valve body having an inflow end, an outflow end, and an inner wall extending between the inflow end and the outflow end forming an orifice having a longitudinal dimension along an axis extending between the inflow end and the outflow end; at least one flexible leaflet having an analytic shape in a selected position coupled to the inner wall along an attachment curve; and wherein a portion of the inner wall intersecting the attachment curve has a noncylindrical shape in a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the orifice.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
190 words
A valve comprising a valve body having an inner wall defining an orifice; at least one flexible leaflet having an analytic shape in a selected position wherein the leaflet has a surface and a free edge, with the free edge having a center point; and an attachment curve having a first end and a second end, the leaflet being coupled to the valve body along the attachment curve at the inner wall, the inner wall being non-cylindrical along said attachment curve and wherein the attachment curve is configured to have a shortest distance measured along the surface of the leaflet between the center point of the free edge and a point on the attachment curve, said point being removed from both the first end and the second end of the attachment curve, said shortest distance being smaller than both the distance measured along the surface of the leaflet between the center point of the free edge and the first end of the attachment curve and the distance measured along the surface of the leaflet between the center point of the free edge and the second end of the attachment curve.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
190 words
A valve comprising a valve body having an inner wall defining an orifice; at least one flexible leaflet having an analytic shape in a selected position wherein the leaflet has a surface and a free edge, with the free edge having a center point; and an attachment curve having a first end and a second end, the leaflet being coupled to the valve body along the attachment curve at the inner wall, the inner wall being non-cylindrical along said attachment curve and wherein the attachment curve is configured to have a shortest distance measured along the surface of the leaflet between the center point of the free edge and a point on the attachment curve, said point being removed from both the first end and the second end of the attachment curve, said shortest distance being smaller than both the distance measured along the surface of the leaflet between the center point of the free edge and the first end of the attachment curve and the distance measured along the surface of the leaflet between the center point of the free edge and the second end of the attachment curve.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
16 words
The valve of claim 2 wherein a region along said attachment curve shares said shortest distance.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
16 words
The valve of claim 2 wherein said analytic shape comprises a portion of a cylindrical surface.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
15 words
The valve of claim 2 wherein said analytic shape comprises a portion of an ellipsoid.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
15 words
The valve of claim 2 wherein said analytic shape comprises a portion of a paraboloid.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
18 words
The valve of claim 2 comprising three leaflets, each leaflet having an analytic shape in a selected position.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
15 words
The valve of claim 2 wherein the inner wall is concave along the attachment curve.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
15 words
The valve of claim 2 wherein the inner wall is convex along the attachment curve.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
103 words
A method for making a valve comprising: selecting at least one flexible leaflet having an analytic shape in a selected position; forming a valve body having an inflow end, an outflow end, and an inner wall extending between the inflow end and the outflow end which forms an orifice having a longitudinal dimension along an axis extending between the inflow end and the outflow end; and coupling said leaflet to said inner wall along an attachment curve wherein a portion of the inner wall intersecting the attachment curve has a non-cylindrical shape in a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the orifice.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
103 words
A method for making a valve comprising: selecting at least one flexible leaflet having an analytic shape in a selected position; forming a valve body having an inflow end, an outflow end, and an inner wall extending between the inflow end and the outflow end which forms an orifice having a longitudinal dimension along an axis extending between the inflow end and the outflow end; and coupling said leaflet to said inner wall along an attachment curve wherein a portion of the inner wall intersecting the attachment curve has a non-cylindrical shape in a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the orifice.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
182 words
A method of making a valve comprising: selecting a leaflet having an analytic shape in a selected position wherein said leaflet has a surface and a free edge, with the free edge having a center point; connecting said leaflet to a valve body along an attachment curve having a first end and a second end; configuring the valve body with an inner wall, said inner wall having a non-cylindrical surface defined by said attachment curve; and configuring the attachment curve to have a shortest distance measured along the surface of the leaflet between the center point of the free edge and a point on the attachment curve, said point being removed from both the first end and the second end of the attachment curve, said shortest distance being smaller than both the distance measured along the surface of the leaflet between the center point of the free edge and the first end of the attachment curve and the distance measured along the surface of the leaflet between the center point of the free edge and the second end of the attachment curve.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
182 words
A method of making a valve comprising: selecting a leaflet having an analytic shape in a selected position wherein said leaflet has a surface and a free edge, with the free edge having a center point; connecting said leaflet to a valve body along an attachment curve having a first end and a second end; configuring the valve body with an inner wall, said inner wall having a non-cylindrical surface defined by said attachment curve; and configuring the attachment curve to have a shortest distance measured along the surface of the leaflet between the center point of the free edge and a point on the attachment curve, said point being removed from both the first end and the second end of the attachment curve, said shortest distance being smaller than both the distance measured along the surface of the leaflet between the center point of the free edge and the first end of the attachment curve and the distance measured along the surface of the leaflet between the center point of the free edge and the second end of the attachment curve.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 11 wherein a region of said attachment curve shares said shortest distance.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 11 wherein said analytic shape comprises a portion of a cylindrical surface.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method of claim 11 wherein said analytic shape comprises an ellipsoid.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method of claim 11 wherein said analytic shape comprises a paraboloid.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 11 wherein configuring said attachment curve includes locating a point of maximum stress on the leaflet away from commissures.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 11 further comprising selecting three leaflets, each leaflet having an analytic shape in selected position.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
131 words
The method of claim 11 wherein said leaflet has a surface and a free edge, the free edge having a center point; and said attachment curve has a first end, a second end and a point of maximum stress between said first and second ends, said method further comprising: calculating a calculated point on a calculated attachment curve defined by the intersection of the leaflet and a hypothetical circular inner wall, which calculated point is calculated to experience maximum stress under load; and configuring the attachment curve so that a linear distance between said center point and said point of maximum stress is greater than a linear distance between said center point and said calculated point, said point of maximum stress being co-linear with said center point and said calculated point.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method of claim 18 increasing a linear distance between said center point and said attachment curve beyond said calculated attachment curve for a region around said point of maximum stress.