A simple method for estimating stresses in natural and prosthetic heart valves

Flexible-leaflet prosthetic heart valves offer certain advantages over the lateral-flow central-occluding devices in current use. However, achieving sufficient strength and fatigue resistance in the flexible leaflets is a difficult design problem. The present paper contributes to the solution of this problem by describing a simple step-by-step method for estimating the stress in a flexible leaflet valve. The method is especially suited for evaluating preliminary proposed designs since it requires only a few simple measurements and calculations. An example is presented in which stresses estimated by the method are compared with those obtained from a finite element analysis. In addition, an error is pointed out in a previously-published method for estimating stresses in leaflet valves.