In vitro stress measurements in the vicinity of six mechanical aortic valves using hot-film anemometry in steady flow.
Based on hot-film anemometry, point velocity measurements in the total cross sectional area 1 and 2 diameters downstream of: Björk-Shiley Standard, Convex-Concave and Monostrut, Hall-Kaster (Medtronic-Hall), St. Jude Medical and Starr-Edwards Silastic Ball aortic valves were made. The spatial distribution of Reynolds Normal Stresses (RNS) was visualized three-dimensionally in order to point out where and to what extent the highest RNSs were found. The measurements were made in steady flowing glycerol mixture at flow rates 10, 20 and 30 l. min-1 corresponding to mean velocities of 27, 54 and 81 cm s-1. The highest maximum RNS values were around 250 Nm-2 and were found downstream of the Björk-Shiley Monostrut and Starr-Edwards Ball valves. The lowest maximum RNSs were found downstream of the St. Jude Medical and Hall-Kaster (Medtronic-Hall) valves (125-140 Nm-2). The Starr-Edwards valve had the highest mean RNS (117 Nm-2) followed by the Björk-Shiley Monostrut (87 Nm-2). These simplified measurements of artificial heart valve performances concerning RNS, enhance the interpretation of results in more complicated flow models not to say in vivo.
Hasenkam
J M
JM
Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, Aarhus Kommunehospital, Denmark.
Westphal
D
D
Nygaard
H
H
Reul
H
H
Giersiepen
M
M
Stødkilde-Jørgensen
H
H
D001021:Aortic Valve; D006350:Heart Valve Prosthesis; D008954:Models, Biological; D012212:Rheology; D013314:Stress, Mechanical