US Patent 7018404 Conduit for aorta or pulmonary artery replacement

Prosthetic conduits include biocompatible material formed into a generally cylindrical section and an expanded section connected to the generally cylindrical section. The conduit has a lumen extending through the generally cylindrical section and the expanded section. The biocompatible material may be tissue. The biocompatible material can include one segment or a plurality of segments joined together to form the generally cylindrical section and the expanded section. The prosthetic conduit may include a reinforcement to prevent dilation or collapse of the conduit. The reinforcement can be placed at or near the junction of a generally cylindrical section and an expanded section and/or at other locations along the conduit. The prosthetic conduit may include a prosthetic heart valve. The prosthetic conduit can include tubules to facilitate attachment of coronary arteries to the prosthetic conduit The prosthetic conduit includes two sections that are joined to form the prosthetic conduit.