A Flow Visualization Study of Prosthetic Aortic and Mitral Heart Valves in a Model of the Aorta and Left Heart

Abstract

An in vitro flow visualization study has been carried out on a range of aortic and mitral valve prostheses mounted in rigid, transparent models of the aorta and left ventricle, The valves were subjected to pulsatile flow and the flow patterns produced by each valve were visualized by injecting multi-dye streams into the valve orifice, or by observing illuminated particles suspended in the flow. The patterns were recorded by still photography and high speed cinematography. In the mitral region each tilting disc valve produced a large vortex which dominated the ventricular cavity. By contrast disc and ball valves each produced an annular vortex, and the bioprosthesis produced a central flow. In the aortic region the flow patterns produced by a tilting disc valve depended on the orientation of the valve in the aorta. The aortic ball valve was found to produce less flow disturbance than either tilting disc valve or the porcine bioprosthesis.