title: Fluid dynamic characterization of a polymeric heart valve prototype (Poli-Valve) tested under continuous and pulsatile flow conditions.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Only mechanical and biological heart valve prostheses are currently commercially available. The former show longer durability but require anticoagulant therapy; the latter display better fluid dynamic behavior but do not have adequate durability. New Polymeric Heart Valves (PHVs) could potentially combine the hemodynamic properties of biological valves with the durability of mechanical valves. This work presents a hydrodynamic evaluation of 2 groups of newly developed supra-annular, trileaflet prosthetic heart valves made from styrenic block copolymers (SBC): Poli-Valves.
  
  
  METHODS
  2 types of Poli-Valves made of SBC and differing in polystyrene fraction content were tested under continuous and pulsatile flow conditions as prescribed by ISO 5840 Standard. A pulse duplicator designed ad hoc allowed the valve prototypes to be tested at different flow rates and frequencies. Pressure and flow were recorded; pressure drops, effective orifice area (EOA), and regurgitant volume were computed to assess the behavior of the valve.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Both types of Poli-Valves met the minimum requirements in terms of regurgitation and EOA as specified by the ISO 5840 Standard. Results were compared with 5 mechanical heart valves (MHVs) and 5 tissue heart valves (THVs), currently available on the market.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Based on these results, PHVs based on styrenic block copolymers, as are Poli-Valves, can be considered a promising alternative for heart valve replacement in the near future.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, Materials and Chemical Engineering Giulio Natta, Politecnico di Milano, Milan - Italy.
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: De Gaetano
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge - UK.
authors.forename: Marta
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Serrani
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, Materials and Chemical Engineering Giulio Natta, Politecnico di Milano, Milan - Italy.
authors.forename: Paola
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Bagnoli
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge - UK.
authors.forename: Jacob
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Brubert
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge - UK.
authors.forename: Joanna
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Stasiak
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge - UK.
authors.forename: Geoff D
authors.initials: GD
authors.lastname: Moggridge
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, Materials and Chemical Engineering Giulio Natta, Politecnico di Milano, Milan - Italy.
authors.forename: Maria Laura
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Costantino
mesh_terms: D006350:Heart Valve Prosthesis; D006439:Hemodynamics; D057446:Hydrodynamics; D008422:Materials Testing; D011474:Prosthesis Design; D011673:Pulsatile Flow