Scaling of mechanical heart valves for cavitation inception: observation and acoustic detection

This paper discusses scaling laws of cavitation in mechanical heart valves based on analysis of leaflet operation and on hydrodynamic theory. It then suggests the laboratory use of large geometric scales and testing at low operating pressures to more easily investigate new heart valve designs. With such scaling, observations and measurements will become easier since the cavitation regions will be larger in dimension and the time scales will be increased due to reductions of bubble characteristic times and leaflet oscillation periods. The paper also discusses cavitation noise and the potential for acoustic detection of cavitation in a mechanical heart valve.