A novel method to measure mitral valve chordal tension

Proper leaflet coaptation of the mitral valve is vital for a healthy functioning heart. Chordal tension directly affects leaflet coaptation. The C-shaped transducer used previously to measure chordal tension was too big for tension measurement of multiple chordae and their branches. A new method is needed to measure chordal tension with minimum interference with chord and leaflet motion. The method was to extrapolate longitudinal chordal tension from transverse chordal fibril force measured by inserting a small elliptical AIFP4 sensor from MicroStrain Inc. (Williston, VT) through a chord. Sensitivity of the method has been tested with the sensor implanted in chordae, and error of the method has been estimated at various sensor deviation angles. Intact porcine and ovine hearts were used to measure mitral valve strut and marginal chordal tensions at static transmitral pressures of 120 mm Hg and 160 mm Hg under an in vitro condition. The results obtained from the AIFP4 sensor were similar to the results obtained previously by C-shaped transducers in the porcine mitral valves. The sensor output errors increased with the increase in sensor deviation angle in the chord at a peak systolic tension. Strut chordal tensions of four ovine mitral valves of Edwards ring size M 28 were 0.29+/-0.06 N at the transmitral pressure of 120 mm Hg. The tension of 18 porcine strut chordae of porcine mitral valves of Edwards ring size M 32 was 1.00+/-0.42 N at the transmitral pressures of 120 mm Hg. The tension of 22 anterior leaflet marginal chordae from porcine mitral valves of Edwards ring size M 32 was 0.10+/-0.04 N at the transmitral pressure of 120 mm Hg. A new method using an AIFP4 miniature force sensor to measure mitral valve chordal tension indirectly is successfully developed. This force sensor works well in measuring mitral valve chordal tension at an in vitro hydrostatic transmitral pressure. The size and simple fixation of the sensor make it favorable for chordal tension measurement of multiple chordae and their branches under in vitro or in vivo conditions with minimal interference with chordal geometry and dynamics.