ISSN: 2329-8790
Department of Plastic Surgery, School of Medicine, West Virginia University, Canada
Research Article
Canary in the Cardiac-Valve Coal Mine: Flow Velocity and Inferred Shear during Prosthetic Valve Closure-Predictors of Blood Damage and Clotting
Author(s): Lawrence N. Scotten*, Rolland Siegel, David J Blundon, Marcus-Andre Deutsch, Terence R.P. Martin, James W. Dutton, Ebrahim M. Kolahdouz and Boyce E. Griffith
Objective: To demonstrate a clear link between predicted blood shear forces during valve closure and thrombogenicity that explains the thrombogenic difference between tissue and mechanical valves and provides a practical metric to develop and refine prosthetic valve designs for reduced thrombogenicity.
Methods: Pulsatile and quasi-steady flow systems were used for testing. The time-variation of Projected Open Valve Area (POVA) was measured using analog opto-electronics calibrated to projected reference orifice areas. Flow velocity determined over the cardiac cycle equates as instantaneous volumetric flow rate divided by POVA. For the closed valve interval, data from quasi-steady back pressure/flow tests was obtained.
Performance ranked by derived maximum negative and positive closing flow velocities, evidences potential clinical th.. View More»