Fabric valve leaflet (ribbon valve leaflet) - Replaces animal valve tissue
Ref.-No. 6371/6624
Keywords: Heart Valve or Heart Valve replacement from textile, woven fabric/ material, Stent, Protsthetic heart valve, artificial valve
Medical advances in recent decades have extended human lifespan with no deterioration of quality of life. Much of this quality of life improvement has been due to artificial replacement materials and the parts made from them that can temporarily or permanently perform the functions of body parts that are not performing as they should.
The RWTH Aachen and Uniklinik RWTH Aachen have now developed a new heart valve prosthesis for implant into human or animal bodies. The valve prosthesis consists of a valve stent with a ring-shaped lower valve base and three fabric valve leaflets. Unlike current heart valve leaflets made of animal tissue, fabric leaflets allow high-precision, standardized, quality-assured manufacture and are also much less expensive. The polymer thread fabric provides the valve leaflet’s basic biomechanical structure and can be used for heart and venous valves. One of the two fabric edges forms the valve leaflet edge, with the other edge connected to the valve ring. The woven warp threads run parallel to the free leaflet edge; weft threads run perpendicular. The warp threads thus bear the maximum tensile forces upon valve closure, which is decisive for fatigue strength. In the area of the top commissures, they are configured specifically to bear load. The opposite edge of the woven fabric can be formed as a complete fabric edge or separated from the woven material in the form of a valve leaflet attachment with the separated edges sealed in post-processing (welding, bonding, etc.) to keep the weave from fraying. The valve leaflet’s woven structure can be layered by means of a spraying process or a polymer solution with electrospinning to improve blood compatibility and support endothelial cell colonization.
Competitive Advantages
- Replaces animal tissue
- Heart valve replacement
- Can also be used as a venous valve
Commercial Opportunities
Heart valve prostheses are suitable for implantation into human or animal bodies. The invention is designed to replace the animal heart valve leaflets and pericardial tissue on biological heart valves and can be used in surgically insertable valves as well as TAVI valves, whose implantation is minimally invasive.
Current Status
Initial prototypes have been successfully created and submitted to endurance testing (200 million stress cycles). The technology has been registered with the German Patent and Trade Mark Office. Based on the PCT application, further international patent applications in Europe (EP), the U.S. (US), and India (IN) have been submitted.
We are offering interested companies the opportunity to license and refine the technology in collaboration with the RWTH Aachen and Uniklinik RWTH Aachen. The technology can also be researched as part of a project in which companies can actively participate.
Technology Readiness Level
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Technology validated in relevant environment
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An invention from the RWTH Aachen and Uniklinik RWTH Aachen.
