title: Parameters and methods for testing artificial heart valves.
abstract: The report describes the development of heart valve test standards. The aim is comprehensive quality assurance by in vitro tests. The project includes three test fields: general basis, development and definition of test methods and test devices and comparative in vitro assessment of valves for the definition of minimum requirements. A preliminary list of test parameters and test steps has been defined: geometrical, flow, deformation, force, and conditioning parameters. A system of geometrical parameters has been developed for standardized aortic models. Geometrical parameters of 31 valves of six types and different sizes underline a close correlation between geometrical and hemodynamic parameters. The relative ostium cross-section Ae/AT increases with valve size and lies between 0.3 and 0.5. Two new measurement devices with quasi-steady flow are proposed as quick testers for leakage flow and pressure loss.
authors.affiliation: Aerodynamisches Institut, Technical University, Aachen, FRG.
authors.forename: J C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Köhler
authors.forename: J G
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Tech
mesh_terms: D006350:Heart Valve Prosthesis / Q000592:standards*; D006439:Hemodynamics; D006801:Humans; D008955:Models, Cardiovascular; D011474:Prosthesis Design; D011786:Quality Control