title: Innovative technologies for the assessment of cardiovascular medical devices: state-of-the-art techniques for artificial heart valve testing.
abstract: Prosthetic heart valves (PHVs) are engineered devices used for replacing diseased natural cardiac valves. This article presents several investigational techniques for the evaluation of the performance of these clinical devices, whose implantation is not completely free of drawbacks. The state-of-the-art in the technological approach for PHV testing is addressed. As the fluid dynamics of PHVs are particularly complex, the main focus will be on experimental velocimetric techniques and computational analysis. A methodology for the analysis of the valve's signature, in terms of its characteristic sound in the opening and closing phases, is also presented. The aforementioned techniques are necessary to guarantee an operational life of the implanted device as free as possible from clinical complications. It can be realistically expected that this characterization will help designers in improving PHV performance.
authors.affiliation: Cardiovascular Bioengineering, Technology and Health Department, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Viale Regina Elena 299, 00161, Rome, Italy. grigioni@iss.it
authors.forename: Mauro
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Grigioni
authors.forename: Carla
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Daniele
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: D'Avenio
authors.forename: Umberto
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Morbiducci
authors.forename: Costantino
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Del Gaudio
authors.forename: Mara
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Abbate
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Di Meo
mesh_terms: D001709:Biotechnology / Q000379:methods* / Q000639:trends; D017076:Computer-Aided Design; D019544:Equipment Failure Analysis / Q000379:methods*; D004864:Equipment and Supplies; D006350:Heart Valve Prosthesis; D008955:Models, Cardiovascular; D011474:Prosthesis Design / Q000379:methods* / Q000639:trends; D012107:Research Design