Cardiovascular Simulation for Pulsating Perfusion of Heart Valves in Mitral- or Aorta Position

Summary

The knowledge of closing ability, pressure- and energy loss can facilitate the selection of the type of heart valve to be implanted. The mock circulation has to fulfil the following terms of analogy in order to test a valve prosthesis: Geometrical analogy of the perfused parts, analogous viscosity of the fluid to that of the blood and analogy of the insteady flow proceedings. Mock circulation may be demonstrated by the examples of the St. Jude-Medical-valve. Reflux volume and pressure loss have been registred in mitral- and aorta position, and insufficiency and energy loss have been calculated. The reflux is constant and the insufficiency decreases at increasing the stroke volume. Pressure- and energy losses increase ex-ponentielly with cardiac output. At present the mock circulation is being used to test prototypes, extirpated valve prostheses, and postmortal taken heart valves.