Design studies of cardiac valve prostheses

This paper indicates the vital importance of considering prosthesis articulation in the design of cardiac valves. The prosthesis articulation interrelates with the fixed and the movable prosthetic components. Two basic physiological hemodynamic principles are reviewed: [List: see text] A bileaflet, free-tilting, swivelling prosthesis with a central articular mechanism is undergoing investigation. The four articulations have their own perennial preserving mechanisms to prevent potential failure mode by collecting blood elements in the valve tilting design.