Abstract
The hydrodynamic characteristics of four kinds of disk-type heart valves were evaluated using various types of in vitro test systems: a conventional steady flow test apparatus, static & transient regurgitation test systems, and pulse duplicator systems with pneumatically and hydraulically driven pumps. The valves tested were the Carbomedics bileaflet (CM), St. Vincent's delrin disk (SV), and Sorin pyrolitic carbon disk (SO). The Bjork-Shiley monostrut (MS) was used as a control valve. The results were as follows: (1) the hydrodynamics of the SO were slightly worse than the MS or SV in terms of both forward flow resistance and EOA (calculated from Gorlin's formula); (2) the CM had comparable performance to the St. Jude Medical; (3) the SV is recommended for use in mechanical hearts, particularly on the basis of water hammer measurements.
