Venous Valve, System, and Method With Sinus Pocket

Abstract

A valve with a frame and valve leaflets that provide a sinus pocket. The valve provides for unidirectional flow of a liquid through the valve.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A valve comprising:
 a first member forming a first end and a second end of the valve;   a bulbous portion formed by bulbous portion members engaged to and extending outward from the first member;   wherein a diameter of the bulbous portion is greater than a diameter of the first member.   
     
     
         2 . The valve of  claim 1 , wherein the first member comprises circumferentially adjacent longitudinal segments, each longitudinal segment extending between the first end and the second end of the valve. 
     
     
         3 . The valve of  claim 2 , each bulbous portion member having a first end and a second end, wherein one bulbous portion member engages circumferentially adjacent longitudinal segments, the first end of the bulbous portion member being engaged to one longitudinal segment and the second end of the bulbous portion member being engaged to a circumferentially adjacent longitudinal segment. 
     
     
         4 . The valve of  claim 3 , wherein there are two bulbous portion members. 
     
     
         5 . The valve of  claim 2 , wherein the bulbous portion member has at least one turn. 
     
     
         6 . The valve of  claim 2 , the first member further comprising valve leaflet connection locations for valve leaflets. 
     
     
         7 . The valve of  claim 2 , further comprising leaflets, each leaflet comprising a free end, each leaflet engaged to two circumferentially adjacent longitudinal segments so that the free end extends between the two circumferentially adjacent longitudinal segments, the free end forming a part of a commissure for unidirectional flow through the valve. 
     
     
         8 . The valve of  claim 7 , wherein the commissure has a diameter less than the diameter of the bulbous portion. 
     
     
         9 . The valve of  claim 1 , wherein the first member forms two turns at the first end of the valve and two turns at the second end of the valve. 
     
     
         10 . A valve comprising:
 a frame comprising a first member defining a cross-sectional area having an outer perimeter, the first member comprising longitudinal segments, circumferentially adjacent longitudinal segments being symmetrical about a line parallel to a longitudinal axis of the valve; and   leaflets, each leaflet comprising a free end, each leaflet engaged to two circumferentially adjacent longitudinal segments so that the free end is positioned between first and second ends of the valve and extends between the two circumferentially adjacent longitudinal segments, the free end forming a part of a commissure for unidirectional flow through the valve.   
     
     
         11 . The valve of  claim 10 , the frame further comprising a second member engaged to the first member, the second member defining a cross-sectional area having an outer perimeter;
 wherein the outer perimeter of the cross-sectional area defined by the second member is greater than the outer perimeter of the cross-sectional area defined by the first member.   
     
     
         12 . The valve of  claim 11 , further comprising a sinus pocket defined by the leaflets and the second member. 
     
     
         13 . The valve of  claim 10 , the cross-sectional area defined by the first member including:
 a first cross-sectional area adjacent a first end of the valve, the first cross-sectional area having a first value; and   a second cross-sectional area adjacent a second end of the valve, the second cross-sectional area having a second value greater than the first value.   
     
     
         14 . A valve comprising:
 a frame comprising:
 a first member, the first member forming a first zig-zag ring and a second zig-zag ring interconnected to one another; and 
 second members engaged to, extending outward from, the first zig-zag ring to form a bulbous portion, the bulbous portion defining a cross-sectional area having an outer perimeter that is greater than the an outer perimeter of a cross-sectional area defined by the first member. 
   
     
     
         15 . The valve of  claim 14 , further comprising leaflets, each leaflet engaged to and extending between the first and second zig-zag rings. 
     
     
         16 . The valve of  claim 14 , wherein the second members are engaged only to the first zig-zag ring. 
     
     
         17 . The valve of  claim 14 , wherein the second members are engaged to the first zig-zag ring and the second zig-zag ring. 
     
     
         18 . The valve of  claim 14 , the first member further forming connecting segments extending between and interconnecting the first and second zig-zag rings. 
     
     
         19 . The valve of  claim 18 , wherein the second members are engaged to the first zig-zag ring and the connecting segments. 
     
     
         20 . The valve of  claim 18 , wherein the connecting segments form a zig-zag ring.