A method is disclosed for using tubular material to replace a semilunar
heart valve (i.e., an aortic or pulmonary valve). To create such a
replacement valve, the native valve cusps are removed from inside an aorta
or pulmonary artery, and the inlet end of a tubular segment is sutured to
the valve annulus. The outlet (distal) end of the tube is either "tacked"
at three points distally, or sutured longitudinally along three lines;
either method will allow the flaps of tissue between the suture lines to
function as movable cusps. This approach generates flow patterns that
reduce turbulence and closely duplicate the flow patterns of native
semilunar valves. An article of manufacture is also disclosed, comprising
a sterile biocompatible synthetic material which has been manufactured in
tubular form, by methods such as extrusion or coating a cylindrical
molding device, to avoid a need for a suture line or other seam to convert
a flat sheet of material into a tubular shape. The synthetic tube is
packaged within a sealed watertight enclosure that maintains sterility of
the tube.
