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Updated: Jul 22, 2026

Protocol for Relative Hydrodynamic Assessment of Tri-leaflet Polymer Valves
Published on: October 17, 2013
Experimental studies of the effects of abnormal venous valves on fluid flow
C D Buescher1, B Nachiappan, J M Brumbaugh
1Department of Chemical Engineering, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, Texas 79409, USA.
Abstract:
The effects of variations in the venous valve anatomy are studied experimentally using an artificial system that mimics the bicuspid valves normally found in veins in the lower extremities. The artificial valves are constructed from thin-walled, latex tubing and polyurethane film. The experimental variables in the study are the gap width between the leaflet attachments at the vein wall and the ratio of the sinus depth to vein diameter. The results show that the antegrade mass flow rate is not affected to the same degree when compared to retrograde flow by the various valve configurations examined in this study. The results also indicate that increases in the gap width, which serve to increase the degree of imperfect wall attachment, have less effect on retrograde mass flow rate in valves with deeper sinuses.
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