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Related Experiment Videos

Polyurethane heart valves: fatigue failure, calcification, and polyurethane structure

G M Bernacca1, T G Mackay, R Wilkinson

  • 1University Department of Cardiac Surgery, Royal Infirmary, Glasgow, United Kingdom.

Journal of Biomedical Materials Research
|March 5, 1997
PubMed
Summary

Polyurethane prosthetic heart valves show excellent durability, with some lasting over 800 million cycles. While calcification occurred, these flexible-leaflet valves demonstrate potential for long-term use, matching bioprosthetic valve fatigue life.

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Area of Science:

  • Biomaterials Science
  • Mechanical Engineering
  • Cardiovascular Research

Background:

  • Prosthetic heart valves are crucial for treating valvular heart disease.
  • Polyurethane materials are being explored for advanced valve leaflet design.
  • Long-term durability and biocompatibility remain key challenges for synthetic valves.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate the long-term fatigue and calcification resistance of flexible-leaflet prosthetic heart valves made from polyetherurethaneurea (PEUE).
  • To compare the performance of PEUE valves with those made from polyetherurethane (PEU).
  • To assess the potential of polyurethane-based valves as durable alternatives to current bioprosthetic options.

Main Methods:

  • Six flexible-leaflet prosthetic heart valves fabricated from polyetherurethaneurea (PEUE) were subjected to long-term fatigue testing.

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  • Calcification was assessed in vitro and in vivo.
  • Failure analysis was conducted on tested valves.
  • Comparison was made with previously tested polyetherurethane (PEU) valves.

    • Main Results:

    • Three PEUE valves exceeded 800 million cycles without failure; three failed between 460 and 775 million cycles.
    • Calcification was observed in PEUE leaflets, particularly in high-strain regions near the coaptation zone.
    • PEUE valves showed less calcification than bioprosthetic materials and similar performance to PEU valves in static tests.
    • The failure mode in PEU valves involved abrasion wear linked to calcification.

    Conclusions:

    • Polyurethane valves, including PEUE, can achieve the required durability for implantable prosthetic valves.
    • PEUE leaflets exhibit localized calcification in high-strain areas, but this is a long-term process unlikely to cause early failure.
    • Polyurethane prosthetic heart valves demonstrate fatigue life comparable to current bioprosthetic valves, indicating their viability.