The Carbomedics "Oxford" Photofix stentless valve (PSV)

The hemodynamic superiority of first-generation stentless xenografts over their stented equivalents is now clearly defined. Issues of durability remain. In light of considerable early experience, we sought to provide an "ideal" stentless valve design with the potential for improved durability by eliminating glutaraldehyde. The Carbomedics Oxford Photofix stentless valve (PSV) is a composite xenograft root constructed from three selected porcine noncoronary cusps fixed by the photofix process. The valve inflow has a low pericardial cuff. Consequently there are no coronaries, cloth, or muscle bar in the structure. The valve was tested in the descending aorta and subcoronary positions of juvenile sheep to compare the influence on calcification of photofixation and the alpha-amino-oleic-acid-treated Freestyle valve. There was a substantial difference between the valves, both in radiographic imaging of calcification and the elemental analysis of calcium and phosphorus. In the valve cusp, calcium content of PSV was 3.98+/-5.77 mg/g versus 14.3+/-19.29 mg/g for the Freestyle valve. Equivalent calcium values for the aortic wall were 1.99+/-3.39 mg/g versus 130.79+/-56.29 mg/g. We consider the composite root configuration without cloth, coronaries, or muscle bar to be a promising valve design. The photofix process minimizes xenograft tissue calcification and appears superior to existing methods.