Analysis of mitral and aortic valve vibrations and their role in the production of the first and second heart sounds

Abstract

Using a theoretical approach and stress and vibration analysis, formulae have been derived for the frequencies that would be generated by considering the mitral and aortic valve leaflets as vibrating membranes. In the analysis the physical characteristics of the valves, such as loading, valve geometry and valve tissue mechanical properties, were taken into consideration. The analysis showed that the fundamental frequencies for both the vibrating valves increase with the pressure difference across the valve membranes. This suggests that for a better understanding of the role played by the vibrating heart valves in the production of heart sounds, data are needed on the relation between these frequencies and the pressure difference across the valves. Unfortunately such data do not seem to be available.