Physiologically-based testing system for the mechanical characterization of prosthetic vein valves.
Due to the relatively limited amount of work done to date on developing prosthetic vein (as opposed to cardiac) valves, advances in this topic require progress in three distinct areas: 1) improved device design, 2) relevant device testing conditions, and, 3) appropriate parameters for evaluation of results. It is the purpose of this paper to address two of these issues (#2 and #3) by: 1) performing a study of normal volunteers to quantify the anatomy and hemodynamic features of healthy venous valves, 2) construction of a 2-step, in vitro testing procedure, which simulates both physiologic and postural conditions seen in the lower extremity venous system, and, 3) defining several modified and new parameters which quantify dynamic valve characteristics.
Rittgers
Stanley E
SE
Department of Biomedical Engineering, The University of Akron, Akron, OH 44325, USA. srittgers@uakron.edu
Oberdier
Matt T
MT
Pottala
Sharath
S
D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods; D003198:Computer Simulation; D017076:Computer-Aided Design; D004867:Equipment Design / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D019544:Equipment Failure Analysis / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D006350:Heart Valve Prosthesis; D006801:Humans; D008955:Models, Cardiovascular; D014680:Veins / Q000502:physiology*