This invention is a new polymer-based heart valve designed to reduce stress on the leaflets of the valve while in use in the human body, providing for longer-term durability compared to other polymer-based valves. Background: According to the CDC, heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States: about one in every four deaths is due to heart disease. Some heart conditions can be treated through replacement of heart valves. However, existing replacement heart valves have limitations. Tissue-based replacement valves, which are taken from other humans or animals, tend not to last long, often requiring another replacement later in life. Mechanical valves, on the other hand, last a long time, but they tend to cause blood clots, so recipients of mechanical replacement valves need to take anticoagulant medicine for the rest of their lives. In recent years, there has been increasing research into the use of synthetic polymers to create heart valves. Many hope that polymeric valves will offer longer life than tissue valves, while reducing the clotting risk experienced with mechanical valves. However, one of the main challenges is in creating a valve that can withstand high stresses over a long period of time. This technology promises to do so through new a design and fabrication process. Applications:
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