Anti-Aspiration Valve

Abstract

A prosthesis and a method for making a prosthesis for controlling flow through a bodily lumen are provided. The prosthesis includes a body having a proximal portion, a distal portion and a lumen extending therethrough and further includes a valve operably connected to the body. The valve has a distal end including a first portion of a surface of the valve lumen and a second portion of the surface that contact each other and form a seal in a closed configuration. The distal end of the valve is formed such that the first portion and the second portion of the surface of the valve lumen contact each other and the distal end is configured to open in response to a pressure that is greater than atmospheric pressure.

1 . A prosthesis for controlling flow through a bodily lumen, the prosthesis comprising:
 a body having a proximal portion, a distal portion and a lumen extending therethrough;   a valve operably connected to the body, the valve having a proximal portion, a distal portion and a lumen extending through the valve, the valve lumen operably connected to the body lumen, the valve controlling flow through the prosthesis in a first direction and a second direction so that flow through the valve occurs in the first direction and the second direction; the valve having a substantially U-shaped radial cross-section at a distal end of the valve in a closed configuration, the distal end of the valve being a distal most portion of the valve in the closed configuration, the distal end of the valve comprising a first portion of a surface of the valve lumen and a second portion of the surface that contact each other and form a seal in the closed configuration; and   wherein the distal end of the valve is openable so that the first portion of the surface of the valve lumen and the second portion of the surface of the valve lumen are spaced apart in response to an antegrade pressure and in response to a retrograde pressure that is greater than the antegrade pressure.   
     
     
         2 . The prosthesis of  claim 1 , wherein the proximal portion of the valve is positioned within the lumen of the body. 
     
     
         3 . The prosthesis of  claim 1 , wherein the valve comprises a cylindrically shaped proximal portion sized and shaped to fit with the body. 
     
     
         4 . The prosthesis of  claim 1 , wherein an opening in the proximal portion of the valve has a greater cross sectional area than the distal portion of the valve in an open configuration. 
     
     
         5 . The prosthesis of  claim 1 , wherein the valve comprises a tapered distal end. 
     
     
         6 . The prosthesis of  claim 1 , wherein the substantially U-shaped radial cross-section extends proximally from the distal end of the valve towards the proximal portion in the closed configuration. 
     
     
         7 . The prosthesis of  claim 1 , wherein the valve tapers from the proximal portion of the valve to the distal portion of the valve so that the substantially U-shaped cross section at the distal end of the valve is offset from a longitudinal axis extending through a center of the body. 
     
     
         8 . The prosthesis of  claim 1 , wherein the valve is tapered inward or tapered outward from the proximal portion to the distal portion of the valve. 
     
     
         9 . The prosthesis of  claim 1 , wherein the distal section of the valve may be designed to open to a diameter ranging from 10-60 mm. 
     
     
         10 . The prosthesis of  claim 1 , wherein the length of the valve may be about 10 mm to about 200 mm. 
     
     
         11 . The prosthesis of  claim 1 , wherein the valve comprises an attachment portion to retrofit the valve into the body that has been placed in a patient's lumen. 
     
     
         12 . The prosthesis of  claim 1 , wherein the valve is adapted to at least partially evert so that the distal end of the valve is proximal to the proximal portion of the valve in response to the retrograde pressure. 
     
     
         13 . The prosthesis of  claim 1 , wherein the valve comprises a curve along a longitudinal axis or a curve along a circumference of the valve. 
     
     
         14 . The prosthesis of  claim 1 , wherein the valve comprises a molded valve. 
     
     
         15 . The prosthesis of  claim 1 , wherein the body comprises a liquid impermeable coating.