title: Computational Hemodynamic Investigation of Bileaflet and Trileaflet Mechanical Heart Valves.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The trileaflet heart valve is a more desirable mechanical heart valve due to its similarity to native heart valves, which produce a central blood flow with decreased blood flow disturbance. There are, however, many challenges and difficulties in designing a trileaflet valve, mainly due to a greater number of moving mechanical parts.
  
  
  METHODS
  The flow profiles through a bileaflet mechanical heart valve (BMHV) and a trileaflet mechanical heart valve (TMHV) were compared at downstream regions. Geometric models of a 29 mm St. Jude Medical BMHV and a TMHV were used and positioned at the anatomic position in a curved aortic downstream geometry. Three-dimensional numerical simulations for both types of mechanical heart valve were performed under normal physiological pulsatile flow conditions. Flow profiles were studied under three different implantation locations at Z = 1D (D = 29 mm inlet diameter), 2D and 4D along the aorta centerline during peak systole.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The simulation results showed different flow fields at the downstream positions at Z = 1D and 2D. The leaflets of the BMHV obstructed the flow, while the TMHV allowed a central orifice flow which resulted in a more physiological flow profile. Further downstream, at Z = 4D, the flow fields shared similarities in terms of the flow profile and velocity magnitude.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The findings of this study may help to further improve the development of the TMHV.
authors.forename: Yee Han
authors.initials: YH
authors.lastname: Kuan
authors.forename: Vinh-Tan
authors.initials: VT
authors.lastname: Nguyen
authors.forename: Foad
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Kabinejadian
authors.forename: Hwa Liang
authors.initials: HL
authors.lastname: Leo
mesh_terms: D001783:Blood Flow Velocity; D003198:Computer Simulation; D006350:Heart Valve Prosthesis; D006801:Humans; D008955:Models, Cardiovascular; D011474:Prosthesis Design; D011673:Pulsatile Flow