title: Protocol for relative hydrodynamic assessment of tri-leaflet polymer valves.
abstract: Limitations of currently available prosthetic valves, xenografts, and homografts have prompted a recent resurgence of developments in the area of tri-leaflet polymer valve prostheses. However, identification of a protocol for initial assessment of polymer valve hydrodynamic functionality is paramount during the early stages of the design process. Traditional in vitro pulse duplicator systems are not configured to accommodate flexible tri-leaflet materials; in addition, assessment of polymer valve functionality needs to be made in a relative context to native and prosthetic heart valves under identical test conditions so that variability in measurements from different instruments can be avoided. Accordingly, we conducted hydrodynamic assessment of i) native (n = 4, mean diameter, D = 20 mm), ii) bi-leaflet mechanical (n= 2, D = 23 mm) and iii) polymer valves (n = 5, D = 22 mm) via the use of a commercially available pulse duplicator system (ViVitro Labs Inc, Victoria, BC) that was modified to accommodate tri-leaflet valve geometries. Tri-leaflet silicone valves developed at the University of Florida comprised the polymer valve group. A mixture in the ratio of 35:65 glycerin to water was used to mimic blood physical properties. Instantaneous flow rate was measured at the interface of the left ventricle and aortic units while pressure was recorded at the ventricular and aortic positions. Bi-leaflet and native valve data from the literature was used to validate flow and pressure readings. The following hydrodynamic metrics were reported: forward flow pressure drop, aortic root mean square forward flow rate, aortic closing, leakage and regurgitant volume, transaortic closing, leakage, and total energy losses. Representative results indicated that hydrodynamic metrics from the three valve groups could be successfully obtained by incorporating a custom-built assembly into a commercially available pulse duplicator system and subsequently, objectively compared to provide insights on functional aspects of polymer valve design.
authors.affiliation: Tissue Engineered Mechanics, Imaging and Materials Laboratory, Department of Biomedical Engineering, Florida International University.
authors.forename: Sharan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ramaswamy
authors.forename: Manuel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Salinas
authors.forename: Rob
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Carrol
authors.forename: Karla
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Landaburo
authors.forename: Xavier
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Ryans
authors.forename: Cynthia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Crespo
authors.forename: Ailyn
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rivero
authors.forename: Faris
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Al-Mousily
authors.forename: Curt
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: DeGroff
authors.forename: Mark
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bleiweis
authors.forename: Hitomi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Yamaguchi
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001021:Aortic Valve / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000502:physiology*; D057005:Bioengineering / Q000379:methods; D006350:Heart Valve Prosthesis; D057446:Hydrodynamics; D008422:Materials Testing / Q000379:methods; D012828:Silicones; D013552:Swine
chemical_list: D012828:Silicones