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Design of a Cyclic Pressure Bioreactor for the Ex Vivo Study of Aortic Heart Valves
Published on: August 23, 2011
Computational fluid dynamics study of a protruded-hinge bileaflet mechanical heart valve
1Cardiovascular Dynamics Laboratory, School of Mechanical and Production Engineering, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore.
The Journal of Heart Valve Disease
|April 12, 2001
Summary
This study simulated fluid flow in a novel protruded heart valve hinge. The protruded design demonstrated better hinge clearance washing compared to recessed designs, suggesting improved mechanical heart valve performance.
Area of Science:
- Biomedical Engineering
- Fluid Mechanics
- Cardiovascular Devices
Background:
- Investigating fluid mechanics within mechanical heart valve hinge sockets is crucial for clinical performance.
- Most studies focus on recessed hinges (e.g., St. Jude Medical), but a protruded hinge design offers a novel approach.
Purpose of the Study:
- To analyze the flow fields of a protruded heart valve hinge under steady flow conditions.
- To compare the fluid dynamics of a protruded hinge with a conventional recessed hinge design.
Main Methods:
- Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) simulation using Fluent 4.4.7.
- Generation of a body-fitted coordinates (BFC) grid with refined mesh near the hinge.
- Modeling of both protruded and recessed hinge geometries for comparative analysis.
Main Results:
- The protruded hinge generated small vortices behind stoppers with low velocity in the hinge clearance.
- Migrating flow was observed beneath the leaflet clearance in the protruded design.
- The recessed hinge exhibited dominant reverse flow within the hinge socket.
Conclusions:
- The protruded hinge design promotes effective washing of the hinge region.
- Flow within the protruded hinge is generally three-dimensional.
- The protruded hinge shows potential for reduced shear stress and improved hinge clearance dynamics.
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