OPTIMIZATION OF A STENTLESS VALVE PROSTHESIS BASED ON AN ANALYTIC PARAMETRIC MODEL OF THE AORTIC-VALVE

An analytical mathematical model of a stentless aortic valve has been implemented. The valve is characterised by a trileaflet geometry cilin drical leaflets; the aortic root is schematised by a conical surface w hich includes the leaflet attachments. The model is defined through si x geometric parameters. the base radius, the valve height the commissu re radius, the leaflet radial, circumferential and attachment line len gths. Five performance indexes have been used to optimise the valve ge ometry, namely: the systolic area, the leaflet circumferential stress in diastole, the leaflet bending strain in systole and two bending ang les related to the rotation of the leaflets from the diastolic to the systolic configuration. The sensitivity analysis,is carried out which can identify the influence of each geometric parameter on the performa nce indexes adopted for the optimum Valve design. The analysis of the results provides the geometric configuration which optimises the overa ll function of the valve throughout the cardiac cycle.