Development and in vitro characterization of a new artificial flow channel

To date, cardiac valve diseases are considered as a major public health problem and most frequently, the aortic valve is affected. To treat high-risk patients, catheter-based techniques have been developed recently, avoiding open heart surgery and/or cardiopulmonary bypass. Although these sophisticated and rapidly emerging catheter-based technologies do allow a minimally invasive treatment option of high-risk patients on the one hand, further developments and in vitro testing under physiological conditions are necessary, on the other hand, in order to further optimize them for clinical routines. Therefore, we present the concept of a new multifunctional flow channel, offering (i) the possibility of transapical access; (ii) the simulation of physiological flow conditions; and (iii) the evaluation of the fluid flow by 2D particle image velocimetry within a wide range of parameters.