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Finite Element Investigation of Stentless Pericardial Aortic Valves: Relevance of Leaflet Geometry

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Abstract

Recent developments in aortic valve replacement include the truly stentless pericardial bioprostheses with single point attached commissures (SPAC) implantation technique. The leaflet geometry available for the SPAC valves can either be a simple tubular or a complex three-dimensional structure molded using specially designed molds. Our main objective was to compare these two leaflet designs, the tubular vs. the molded, by dynamic finite element simulation. Time-varying physiological pressure loadings over a full cardiac cycle were simulated using ABAQUS. Dynamic leaflet behavior, leaflet coaptation parameters, and stress distribution were compared. The maximum effective valve orifice area during systole is 633.5 mm2 in the molded valve vs. 400.6 mm2 in the tubular valve, and the leaflet coaptation height during diastole is 4.5 mm in the former, in contrast to 1.6 mm in the latter. Computed compressive stress indicates high magnitudes at the commissures and inter-leaflet margins of the tubular valve, the highest being 3.83 MPa, more than twice greater than 1.80 MPa in the molded valve. The molded leaflet design which resembles the native valve exerts a positive influence on the mechanical performance of the SPAC pericardial valves compared with the simple tubular design. This may suggest enhanced valve efficacy and durability.

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Acknowledgment

The authors gratefully acknowledge the support of a grant from the Academic Research Fund (AcRF) Tier 2 Project by the Ministry of Education Singapore for this study (T207B3203).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Nanyang Technological University, 50 Nanyang Avenue, Singapore, 639798, Singapore

    Fang Li Xiong & Joon Hock Yeo

  2. Clinic for Cardiovascular Surgery, German Heart Center Technical University Munich, Munich, Germany

    Wolfgang A. Goetz

  3. Department of Engineering Materials, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK

    Chuh Khiun Chong

  4. Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, National Heart Center, Singapore, Singapore

    Yeow Leng Chua

  5. Department for Medical Engineering, Technical University Munich, Garching, Germany

    Stefan Pfeifer & Erich Wintermantel

Authors
  1. Fang Li Xiong
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  2. Wolfgang A. Goetz
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  3. Chuh Khiun Chong
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  4. Yeow Leng Chua
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  5. Stefan Pfeifer
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  7. Joon Hock Yeo
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Correspondence to Joon Hock Yeo.

Electronic supplementary material

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Video 1

Dynamic behavior of the SPAC molded valve: finite element results (MOV 4444 kb)

Video 2

Dynamic behavior of the SPAC tubular valve: finite element results (MOV 4417 kb)

Dynamic behavior of the SPAC molded valve: in vitro results (WMV 2051 kb)

Dynamic behavior of the SPAC tubular valve: in vitro results (WMV 3630 kb)

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Xiong, F.L., Goetz, W.A., Chong, C.K. et al. Finite Element Investigation of Stentless Pericardial Aortic Valves: Relevance of Leaflet Geometry. Ann Biomed Eng 38, 1908–1918 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10439-010-9940-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10439-010-9940-6

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