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Current use of substitute heart valves
1University of Texas Medical School, Houston, Texas.
Surgical Technology International
|May 8, 2015
Summary
Effective artificial heart valve replacement became possible in the 1960s with caged-ball prostheses, evolving significantly since. Annual implantation rates reached 51,000 by 1988 in the United States.
Area of Science:
- Cardiovascular Surgery
- Biomedical Engineering
- Medical Device Development
Background:
- Heart valve repair was possible from the 1940s.
- Effective valve replacement required advancements in cardiopulmonary bypass (heart-lung) machines and suitable prosthetic valves.
- Early research focused on anatomical resemblance, hindering progress.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the historical development of artificial heart valve replacement.
- To highlight key innovations in prosthetic valve design and fabrication.
Main Methods:
- Historical review of medical literature and technological advancements.
- Analysis of the timeline of key inventions and their impact.
Main Results:
- The development of the heart-lung machine was crucial for cardiac surgery.
- Caged-ball prostheses, introduced in the early 1960s by Harken and Starr, enabled effective valve replacement.
- Subsequent decades saw continuous improvements in artificial heart valve design and manufacturing.
Conclusions:
- The advent of effective prosthetic valves revolutionized cardiac surgery.
- Ongoing innovation has led to improved designs and widespread clinical application of artificial heart valves.
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