title: Hydrodynamics of a long-body bileaflet mechanical heart valve.
abstract: A new bileaflet substitute mechanical heart valve (MHV) that incorporates an optimal length-to-annulus ratio for improved hydrodynamic efficiency was recently introduced. Efforts have been made on this new prosthesis to use the current advances in carbon materials and design technology to achieve higher net forward flow with minimal energy loss for the smaller aortic valves, while reducing regurgitant closure volume for the larger size valves by an elongated orifice. Benchtop experiments performed in a pulsatile flow loop, under simulated physiologic conditions, substantiated these improvements as claimed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Miami, Coral Gables, Florida 33124, USA.
authors.forename: B Z
authors.initials: BZ
authors.lastname: Gao
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Hosein
authors.forename: N H
authors.initials: NH
authors.lastname: Hwang
mesh_terms: D001021:Aortic Valve; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D001698:Biomedical Engineering; D055592:Biophysical Phenomena; D001703:Biophysics; D004867:Equipment Design; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D006350:Heart Valve Prosthesis; D006439:Hemodynamics; D006801:Humans; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D008943:Mitral Valve; D011312:Pressure