Aortic valve leaflet sizer: a new device for aortic valve sparing.
In aortic valve-sparing surgery, the native valve of the patient is left in place but may need correction of its dimensions in order to regain full competence. A sizer was designed that can simultaneously measure the leaflet height and free edge length. A prototype was built and successfully used in porcine hearts of various sizes. The sizer is easy to use and provides dependable measurement of the aortic leaflet dimensions. Moreover, it represents a new resource on which surgeons may draw on to perform aortic valve-sparing surgery, with a better outcome for the patients.
Labrosse
Michel R
MR
University of Ottawa, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. labrosse@eng.uottawa.ca
Beller
Carsten J
CJ
D000818:Animals; D001021:Aortic Valve / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D001022:Aortic Valve Insufficiency / Q000601:surgery; D004108:Dilatation, Pathologic / Q000601:surgery; D017548:Echocardiography, Transesophageal; D006350:Heart Valve Prosthesis; D019918:Heart Valve Prosthesis Implantation / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D011474:Prosthesis Design; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D013552:Swine