fig1 shows a heart valve prosthesis 1 having an annular support la according to the invention in an oblique view with partly removed textile covering 3 , which covers the annular support la together with a collar 2 mounted thereon . as can be seen , the support 1a consists of flat material , in particular of a thermoplastic , so that it can be produced easily and economically , for example by injection molding . the support 1a possesses , in a known manner , three axially projecting support arms 4 , the free ends of which are rounded in the manner to be described subsequently with reference to fig2 . projections 5 and indentations 6 are arranged alternately at the axial end of the support 1a , opposite the support arms 4 , in which indentations any excess biological heart valve material , which is to be flattened in conventional manner over the support arms and is to be fastened to - the collar 2 , can be accommodated . as will be explained subsequently , the support 1a -- in contrast to the prior art -- is relatively flexible and elastic , and expediently only the middle region between the base region 4a of the support arms 4 and the indentations 6 can be reinforced , as is evident from fig4 a and 5a . the textile covering 3 is expediently elastic and consists , for example , of a network fabric , because such a fabric has sufficient intrinsic elasticity -- even when conventional , biologically tolerated textile material is used . in practice , a usci product , adavison , from c . r . bard , catalogue no . 007831 , has proved expedient . this is all the more surprising since nonelastic coverings have been chosen to date ; however , it will subsequently become clear that the choice of elastic material results in a simplification in the manufacture of the heart valve prosthesis , improved safety with respect to tearing of seams and a smaller number of such seams , which also improves the tolerance of the prosthesis . this is because in many cases a concealed ( and therefore invisible ) circumferential seam in the region of the collar 2 will be sufficient , if necessary with a vertical seam 7 . from the , developed view of the enclosed support 1a according to fig2 it can be seen that the indentations 6 are located exactly opposite the support arms 4 , on the same generatrix 8 which forms a common axis of symmetry . the rather flat projections 5 are located between the indentations 6 . the generatrices 8 preferably form a gentle cone , the geometry of which will be discussed with reference to fig3 to 5a . the height h from the outermost tip of the support arms 4 to the ends of the projections 5 is smaller than the maximum diameter of the support la shown in fig1 . to make it easier to pull on the material 3 -- with an optimal anatomical fit -- it is expedient if the support arms 4 are rounded at their free ends with a radius r which corresponds to not more than one eighth of the diameter of the support 1a -- measured in the region of the collar 2 shown in fig1 . on the other hand , it is advantageous if the indentations 6 are relatively flat , the radius of curvature 2r preferably corresponding to not more than twice the radius of curvature r of the support arms 4 . the collar 2 consisting of textile or plastic material is expediently mounted between the two circumferential lines 9 and 10 , the circumferential line 9 being located underneath the base 4a of the support arms 4 -- preferably at a distance a1 of about 1 mm -- the circumferential line 10 advantageously being located somewhat further , for example a distance a2 of about 2 mm , from the edges of the indentations 6 . the height h of the indentations 6 , that is to say the height of the arrow from the free end of the projections 5 to the lowest point of the indentation 6 , should expediently be not more than 0 . 2 mm . the wall thickness w of the flat support 1a can be relatively uniform and not more than 1 mm , but fig3 to 5a are intended to show that nonuniform wall thicknesses are also possible within the scope of the invention . it should also be mentioned that fig2 shows an equidistant arrangement of the support arms 4 , i . e . an arrangement distributed symmetrically over the circumference of the annular element 1a , but that , as has also already been proposed -- asymmetric arrangements are likewise possible . thus , by means of different spacings between the support arms 4 , the fact that the biological material is generally not uniformly available for the heart prosthesis is taken into account . for example , if the spacing of the three arms increases in the clockwise or counterclockwise direction , an angular sequence of 110 °, 120 ° and 130 ° proving particularly advantageous , different biological circumstances can be catered for with these two embodiments . fig3 shows a section through the support 1a , in which the arms 4 make an angle α , preferably of not more than 8 °, with a longitudinal axis or with a line l parallel thereto , so that the vertical angle of the support arms 4 converging from two opposite sides of the annular element 1a is finally 2α . in this embodiment , the wall thickness w in the region of the support arms 4 is relatively uniform ; it may taper slightly towards the free ends of the arms 4 , while the region located underneath the base 4a can be reinforced midway in its cross - section a , that is to say arched inwards . this gives the support arms 4 increased mobility and elasticity which supports its function at a point in constant movement and , owing to its greater adaptability , makes the prosthesis more suitable for use in a very wide range of positions . in the case of fig4 too , the outer surface of the support arms 4 is conical with respect to the longitudinal axis of the support 1a , as is preferred . here , however , the internal diameter of the support is the same over the height of the support arms 4 , so that the inner cavity -- in the region of the support arms 4 -- is to be regarded as cylindrical . in addition to this conical embodiment of the upper support arm region of the support 1a , the lower region too , which includes the projections 5 and the indentations 6 , can be in the form of a cone which opens in a downward direction and has a slightly larger cone angle α1 , where α1 may be , for example , about 2 ° larger than α . if , for example , α is 6 °, α1 is 8 °. the transition from the upper region of the support arms 4 to the lower region of the projections 5 is preferably via the outer ( and inner ) curvature . the radius r1 of this curvature is not critical and may be , for example , 15 to 45 mm . this also improves the retention of the collar 2 -- where it is used -- and of course the transition from the upper to the lower region is therefore close to the line 10 described above with reference to fig2 . as shown in fig4 a by means of a section , an annular region 11 which has a cross - section tapering inwards to a point and imparts greater stability there to the support 1a while fully retaining the elasticity of the support arms , can be provided between the projecting support arms 4 and the projections 5 forming -- similarly to fig4 -- a lower cone of relatively great divergence . for reasons relating to medical technology , however , a continuously rounded transition is generally provided between the upper and the lower region . the fact that the wall thickness of the support arms 4 tapers at an angle α2 towards their free ends in such a way that the free end is , for example , about 20 % narrower than the base of the particular support arm 4 helps to increase the elasticity in the case of fig4 and 4a . if fig4 a also shows an annular region 11 tapering inwards to a point , it is of course true that an inner curvature , for example having the stated radius r1 , is preferable . larger radii of , for example , 30 mm ( cf . fig5 ) are preferable to smaller radii ( cf . fig5 a ) because they permit better adaptation to the particular function . thus , the embodiment according to fig5 appears to be optimal ; it has an upper cone having a vertical angle of , for example , 6 ° and a lower cone having a vertical angle of , for example , 8 °, in conjunction with tapering of the support arms 4 towards their free ends , and an inner curvature having a radius r1 . in this sense , it is possible first to prefabricate supports 1a of different diameters , preferably from 17 mm to 33 mm at the base b . in order subsequently to form a heart valve prosthesis 1 shown in fig1 therefrom , a textile covering 3 must be provided -- in the manner described . in practice , a human ( if desired also an animal ) pulmonary or aortic valve is stored either in a nutrient solution ( together with antibiotics and other substances ) and is sewn to the prosthesis shown shortly before use ; alternatively , the already combined components of the prosthesis are stored or frozen together in a nutrient solution until they are required . this also ensures a high rate of cell survival , and the prostheses produced in this manner can be used in four different positions . a large number of modifications are possible within the scope of the invention : although the tapering with the angle α2 ( fig4 ) was described with reference to the support arms 4 , it is advantageous if the projections 5 also taper , as illustrated in particular by the preferred embodiment according to fig5 with the result that these projections 5 , too , impart improved elasticity .
a heart valve prothesis is formed from a support having a textile covering . the support is formed from a single piece of flat , preferably thermoplastic material , arranged to form an annular structure , which preferably is either a hollow cylinder or a hollow cone .