APPROACHING COMPARABILITY AND RESULTS OF PULSATILE FLOW IN-VITRO TESTING OF PROSTHETIC HEART-VALVES

The testing of prosthetic heart values under pulsatile conditions is s till a subject for debate among researchers and competent standardizat ion bodies. The laboratory of Biomedical Engineering of the Istituto S uperiore di Sanita in Rome, has reproduced the current inter-laborator y situation with several test apparatuses, focusing on the definition of significant measurement parameters and procedures to obtain reasona bly comparable data. The laboratory is also equipped with a Laser Dopp ler Anemometer (LDA) and a High-Speed Cinematographic system (HSC). A 29 mm tilting disc valve model, was mounted in the aortic position. Un der tightly controlled system conditions the analyses performed on two pulse duplicators (PDs) may be deemed consistent for the valve model tested. Useful results, an the same value specimen, are reported conce rning velocity profiles and turbulent shear stress values (TSS). Furth ermore valve motion on the Sheffield PD was monitored during the closi ng phase, and related cinematic data reported. The applied methodologi es can provide relevant data to support surgeon decision making.