scholarly journals Stereoscopic PIV of Steady Flow Through a Bileaflet Mechanical Heart Valve

Author(s):  
C. Hutchison ◽  
P. E. Sullivan ◽  
C. R. Ethier

Each year over 180,000 mechanical heart valves are implanted worldwide, with the bileaflet mechanical heart valve (BiMHV) accounting for approximately 85% of all valve replacements [1,2]. Although much improved from previous valve designs, aortic BiMHV design is far from ideal, and serious complications such as thromboembolism and hemolysis often result. Hemolysis and platelet activation are thought to be caused by turbulent Reynolds shear stresses in the flow [1]. Numerous previous studies have examined aortic BiMHV flow using LDA and two component Particle Image Velocimetry (PIV), and have shown the flow to be complex and three-dimensional [3,4]. Stereoscopic PIV (SPIV) can obtain all three velocity components on a flow plane, and hence has the potential to provide better understanding of three dimensional flow characteristics. The objective of the current study was to use SPIV to measure steady flow, including turbulence properties, downstream of a BiMHV in a modeled aorta. The resulting dataset will be useful for CFD model validation, and the intent is to make it publicly available.

2018 ◽  
Vol 5 (3) ◽  
pp. 74 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fardin Khalili ◽  
Peshala Gamage ◽  
Richard Sandler ◽  
Hansen Mansy

Artificial heart valves may dysfunction, leading to thrombus and/or pannus formations. Computational fluid dynamics is a promising tool for improved understanding of heart valve hemodynamics that quantify detailed flow velocities and turbulent stresses to complement Doppler measurements. This combined information can assist in choosing optimal prosthesis for individual patients, aiding in the development of improved valve designs, and illuminating subtle changes to help guide more timely early intervention of valve dysfunction. In this computational study, flow characteristics around a bileaflet mechanical heart valve were investigated. The study focused on the hemodynamic effects of leaflet immobility, specifically, where one leaflet does not fully open. Results showed that leaflet immobility increased the principal turbulent stresses (up to 400%), and increased forces and moments on both leaflets (up to 600% and 4000%, respectively). These unfavorable conditions elevate the risk of blood cell damage and platelet activation, which are known to cascade to more severe leaflet dysfunction. Leaflet immobility appeared to cause maximal velocity within the lateral orifices. This points to the possible importance of measuring maximal velocity at the lateral orifices by Doppler ultrasound (in addition to the central orifice, which is current practice) to determine accurate pressure gradients as markers of valve dysfunction.


2012 ◽  
Vol 569 ◽  
pp. 487-490
Author(s):  
Liang Liang Wu ◽  
Guo Jiang Wan ◽  
Feng Zhou ◽  
Jie Yang ◽  
Nan Huang

The Bileaflet Mechanical Heart Valve (BMHV) has been the most successful replacement mechanical heart valve, and is currently the most commonly implanted mechanical valve. Although the BMHV is an improvement over previous mechanical heart valves, there are still serious associated complications with its use that must be eliminated. After the completion of the processing and surface modification, heart valve ring and heart valve leaflets constitute a single whole with mechanical method to achieve its function process. In order to ensure that the heart valve is stable and reliable in service, it is particularly important to improve the assembly quality. The theoretical analysis and simulation used of ANSYS Workbench software for the behavior of the heart valve assembly have been done, the experimental results were verified by testing apparatus, which is a helpful tool used to simulate the new structure of the heart valve assembly, and play a certain significance to improve the accuracy of the assembly.


Author(s):  
M J King ◽  
T David ◽  
J Fisher

The effect of leaflet opening angle on flow through a bileaflet mechanical heart valve has been investigated using computational fluid dynamics (CFD). Steady state, laminar flow for a Newtonian fluid at a Reynolds number of 1500 was used in the two-dimensional model of the valve, ventricle, sinus and aorta. This computational model was verified using one-dimensional laser Doppler velocimetry (LDV). Although marked differences in the flow fields and energy dissipation of the jets downstream of the valve were found between the CFD predictions and the three-dimensional experimental model, both methods showed similar trends in the changes of the flow fields as the leaflet opening angle was altered. As the opening angle increased the area of recirculating fluid downstream of the leaflets, the pressure drop across the valve and the volumetric flow rate through the outer orifice decreased. For opening angles greater than 80° the jet through the outer orifice recombined with the central jet downstream of the leaflet; for an opening angle of 78° the jet through the outer orifice impinged on the aortic wall before recombining with the central jet. This study suggests that the opening angle has a marked effect on the flow downstream of the bileaflet mechanical heart valve and that valves with opening angles greater than 80° are preferable.


2020 ◽  
Vol 2 (4) ◽  
pp. 184-196
Author(s):  
Oleksandr Voskoboinyk ◽  
Lidiia Tereshchenko ◽  
Vladimir Voskoboinick ◽  
Gabriela Fernandez ◽  
Andrey Voskoboinick ◽  
...  

The formation of thrombi on the streamlined surface of the bileaflet mechanical heart valves is one of the main disadvantages of such valves. Thrombi block the valve leaflets and disrupt the cardiovascular system. Diagnosis of thrombosis of the bileaflet mechanical heart valves is relevant and requires the creation of effective diagnostic tools. Hydroacoustic registration of the heart noise is one of the methods for diagnosing the operation of a mechanical heart valve. The purpose of the research is to determine the statistical characteristics of the vortex and jet flow through the open and semi-closed bileaflet mechanical heart valve, to identify hydroacoustic differences and diagnostic signs to determine the operating conditions of the valve. Experimental studies were conducted in laboratory conditions on a model of the left atrium and left ventricle of the heart between which there was the bileaflet mechanical heart valve. Hydrodynamic noise was recorded by miniature pressure sensors, which were located downstream of the valve. The vortex and jet flow behind the prosthetic heart valve were non-linear, random processes and were analyzed using the methods of mathematical statistics and probability theory. The integral and spectral characteristics of the pressure field were obtained and the differences in the noise levels and their spectral components near the central and side jets for the open and semi-closed mitral valve were established. It was shown that hydroacoustic measurements could be an effective basis for developing diagnostic equipment for monitoring the bileaflet mechanical heart valve operation. Doi: 10.28991/SciMedJ-2020-0204-1 Full Text: PDF


Author(s):  
Marcio H. Forleo ◽  
Brennan M. Johnson ◽  
Lakshmi P. Dasi

Implantation of a bileaflet mechanical heart valve (BMHV) continues to be associated with a risk of thromboembolic complications despite anti-coagulation therapy1. This has been attributed to the structurally rigid design of the leaflets and valve mechanics combined with an intricate hinge mechanism for the rigid leaflets. The lack of a built in compliance within the valve mechanics presumably leads to sharp stress gradients within the flow as well as a violent closure of the valve often associated with the audible impact of the leaflets to the housing, and a potential for momentary cavitation of blood in the wake of leaflet impact.


2010 ◽  
Vol 132 (11) ◽  
Author(s):  
Iman Borazjani ◽  
Fotis Sotiropoulos

We carry out three-dimensional high-resolution numerical simulations of a bileaflet mechanical heart valve under physiologic pulsatile flow conditions implanted at different orientations in an anatomic aorta obtained from magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of a volunteer. We use the extensively validated for heart valve flow curvilinear-immersed boundary (CURVIB) fluid-structure interaction (FSI) solver in which the empty aorta is discretized with a curvilinear, aorta-conforming grid while the valve is handled as an immersed boundary. The motion of the valve leaflets are calculated through a strongly coupled FSI algorithm implemented in conjunction with the Aitken convergence acceleration technique. We perform simulations for three valve orientations, which differ from each other by 45 deg and compare the results in terms of leaflet motion and flow field. We show that the valve implanted symmetrically relative to the symmetry plane of the ascending aorta curvature exhibits the smallest overall asymmetry in the motion of its two leaflets and lowest rebound during closure. Consequently, we hypothesize that this orientation is beneficial to reduce the chance of intermittent regurgitation. Furthermore, we find that the valve orientation does not significantly affect the shear stress distribution in the aortic lumen, which is in agreement with previous studies.


2011 ◽  
Vol 133 (9) ◽  
Author(s):  
L. H. Herbertson ◽  
S. Deutsch ◽  
K. B. Manning

Blood damage and thrombosis are major complications that are commonly seen in patients with implanted mechanical heart valves. For this in vitro study, we isolated the closing phase of a bileaflet mechanical heart valve to study near valve fluid velocities and stresses. By manipulating the valve housing, we gained optical access to a previously inaccessible region of the flow. Laser Doppler velocimetry and particle image velocimetry were used to characterize the flow regime and help to identify the key design characteristics responsible for high shear and rotational flow. Impact of the closing mechanical leaflet with its rigid housing produced the highest fluid stresses observed during the cardiac cycle. Mean velocities as high as 2.4 m/s were observed at the initial valve impact. The velocities measured at the leaflet tip resulted in sustained shear rates in the range of 1500–3500 s−1, with peak values on the order of 11,000–23,000 s−1. Using velocity maps, we identified regurgitation zones near the valve tip and through the central orifice of the valve. Entrained flow from the transvalvular jets and flow shed off the leaflet tip during closure combined to generate a dominant vortex posterior to both leaflets after each valve closing cycle. The strength of the peripheral vortex peaked within 2 ms of the initial impact of the leaflet with the housing and rapidly dissipated thereafter, whereas the vortex near the central orifice continued to grow during the rebound phase of the valve. Rebound of the leaflets played a secondary role in sustaining closure-induced vortices.


Author(s):  
Hélène A. Simon ◽  
Liang Ge ◽  
Iman Borazjani ◽  
Fotis Sotiropoulos ◽  
Ajit P. Yoganathan

Native heart valves with limited functionality are commonly replaced by prosthetic heart valves. Since the first heart valve replacement in 1960, more than three million valves have been implanted worldwide. The most widely implanted prosthetic heart valve design is currently the bileaflet mechanical heart valve (BMHV), with more than 130,000 implants every year worldwide. However, studies have shown that this valve design can still cause major complications, including hemolysis, platelet activation, and thromboembolic events. Clinical reports and recent in vitro experiments suggest that these thrombogenic complications are associated with the hemodynamic stresses imposed on blood elements by the complex non-physiologic flow induced by the valve, in particular in the hinge region.


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