While providing nearly trouble-free function for 10–12 years, current bioprosthetic heart valves (BHV) continue to suffer from limited long-term durability. This is usually a result of leaflet calcification and/or structural degeneration, which may be related to regions of stress concentration associated with complex leaflet deformations. In the current work, a dynamic three-dimensional finite element analysis of a pericardial BHV was performed with a recently developed FE implementation of the generalized nonlinear anisotropic Fung-type elastic constitutive model for pericardial BHV tissues (W. Sun and M.S. Sacks, 2005, [Biomech. Model. Mechanobiol., 4(2-3), pp. 190–199]). The pericardial BHV was subjected to time-varying physiological pressure loading to compute the deformation and stress distribution during the opening phase of the valve function. A dynamic sequence of the displacements revealed that the free edge of the leaflet reached the fully open position earlier and the belly region followed. Asymmetry was observed in the resulting displacement and stress distribution due to the fiber direction and the anisotropic characteristics of the Fung-type elastic constitutive material model. The computed stress distribution indicated relatively high magnitudes near the free edge of the leaflet with local bending deformation and subsequently at the leaflet attachment boundary. The maximum computed von Mises stress during the opening phase was . The dynamic analysis indicated that the free edge regions of the leaflets were subjected to significant flexural deformation that may potentially lead to structural degeneration after millions of cycles of valve function. The regions subjected to time varying flexural deformation and high stresses of the present study also correspond to regions of tissue valve calcification and structural failure reported from explanted valves. In addition, the present simulation also demonstrated the importance of including the bending component together with the in-plane material behavior of the leaflets towards physiologically realistic deformation of the leaflets. Dynamic simulations with experimentally determined leaflet material specification can be potentially used to modify the valve towards an optimal design to minimize regions of stress concentration and structural failure.
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e-mail: chandran@engineering.uiowa.edu
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October 2006
Technical Papers
Dynamic Simulation Pericardial Bioprosthetic Heart Valve Function
Hyunggun Kim,
Hyunggun Kim
Department of Biomedical Engineering,
University of Iowa
, Iowa City, IA 52242
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Jia Lu,
Jia Lu
Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering,
University of Iowa
, Iowa City, IA 52242
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Michael S. Sacks,
Michael S. Sacks
Engineered Tissue Mechanics Laboratory, Department of Bioengineering,
University of Pittsburgh
, Pittsburgh, PA
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Krishnan B. Chandran
Krishnan B. Chandran
Departments of Biomedical and Mechanical and Industrial Engineering,
e-mail: chandran@engineering.uiowa.edu
University of Iowa
, Iowa City, IA IIHR-Hydroscience and Engineering, Iowa City, IA 52242
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Hyunggun Kim
Department of Biomedical Engineering,
University of Iowa
, Iowa City, IA 52242
Jia Lu
Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering,
University of Iowa
, Iowa City, IA 52242
Michael S. Sacks
Engineered Tissue Mechanics Laboratory, Department of Bioengineering,
University of Pittsburgh
, Pittsburgh, PA
Krishnan B. Chandran
Departments of Biomedical and Mechanical and Industrial Engineering,
University of Iowa
, Iowa City, IA IIHR-Hydroscience and Engineering, Iowa City, IA 52242e-mail: chandran@engineering.uiowa.edu
J Biomech Eng. Oct 2006, 128(5): 717-724 (8 pages)
Published Online: April 20, 2006
Article history
Received:
October 6, 2005
Revised:
April 20, 2006
Citation
Kim, H., Lu, J., Sacks, M. S., and Chandran, K. B. (April 20, 2006). "Dynamic Simulation Pericardial Bioprosthetic Heart Valve Function." ASME. J Biomech Eng. October 2006; 128(5): 717–724. https://doi.org/10.1115/1.2244578
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