title: Development of a completely autologous valved conduit with the sinus of Valsalva using in-body tissue architecture technology: a pilot study in pulmonary valve replacement in a beagle model.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  We developed autologous prosthetic implants by simple and safe in-body tissue architecture technology. We present the first report on the development of autologous valved conduit with the sinus of Valsalva (BIOVALVE) by using this unique technology and its subsequent implantation in the pulmonary valves in a beagle model.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A mold of BIOVALVE organization was assembled using 2 types of specially designed silicone rods with a small aperture in a trileaflet shape between them. The concave rods had 3 projections that resembled the protrusions of the sinus of Valsalva. The molds were placed in the dorsal subcutaneous spaces of beagle dogs for 4 weeks. The molds were covered with autologous connective tissues. BIOVALVEs with 3 leaflets in the inner side of the conduit with the sinus of Valsalva were obtained after removing the molds. These valves had adequate burst strength, similar to that of native valves. Tight valvular coaptation and sufficient open orifice area were observed in vitro. These BIOVALVEs were implanted to the main pulmonary arteries as allogenic conduit valves (n=3). Postoperative echocardiography demonstrated smooth movement of the leaflets with trivial regurgitation. Histological examination of specimens obtained at 84 days showed that the surface of the leaflet was covered by endothelial cells and neointima, including an elastin fiber network, and was formed at the anastomosis sides on the luminal surface of the conduit.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We developed the first completely autologous BIOVALVE and successfully implanted these BIOVALVEs in a beagle model in a pilot study.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Kyoto, Japan.
authors.forename: Masashi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Yamanami
authors.forename: Yuki
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Yahata
authors.forename: Masami
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Uechi
authors.forename: Megumi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Fujiwara
authors.forename: Hatsue
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ishibashi-Ueda
authors.forename: Keiichi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kanda
authors.forename: Taiji
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Watanabe
authors.forename: Tsutomu
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Tajikawa
authors.forename: Kenkichi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ohba
authors.forename: Hitoshi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Yaku
authors.forename: Yasuhide
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Nakayama
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001705:Bioprosthesis; D004285:Dogs; D004452:Echocardiography / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D008954:Models, Biological; D011651:Pulmonary Artery / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D012850:Sinus of Valsalva / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D014182:Transplantation, Autologous