In Vitro Comparison of Velocity Profiles and Turbulent Shear Distal to Polyurethane Trileaflet and Pericardial Prosthetic Valves

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

1-1-1989

Department

Mechanical Engineering

Abstract

Abstract: A comparative study of flow dynamics past bi‐omer trileaflet valves and a pericardial bioprosthetic valve under steady and physiological pulsatile flow conditions in vitro is reported in this paper. The velocity profiles and the turbulent shear stresses distal to the valves were measured using laser Doppler anemometry. The authors' results showed that the velocity profiles distal to the trileaflet valves were similar to that measured distal to the pericardial valve. Higher magnitudes of absolute turbulent shear stresses were measured distal to the synthetic valves in comparison to the pericardial valves. However, when the stresses were nondimension‐alized with respect to the orifice diameter at the inlet aspect, the stresses were comparable for all of the three valves. With design modifications to increase the orifice diameter at the inlet aspect of the polyurethane valves, the turbulent stresses distal to the valves can be minimized. Such in vitro studies on the flow dynamics past the polyurethane valves can provide information towards design changes to improve the performance characteristics of these valves. Polyurethane valves with flow characteristics comparable to the pericardial valves can be manufactured relatively inexpensively compared to mechanical or tissue valve prosthesis. Hence, the synthetic valves may be a viable alternative for short‐term use in total artificial heart devices as a bridge to transplant. © 1989 International Society for Artificial Organs

DOI

10.1111/j.1525-1594.1989.tb02850.x

First Page

148

Last Page

154

Publication Title

Artificial Organs

Comments

At the time of publication, Richard T. Schoephoerster was affiliated with University of Iowa.

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