A Novel Trileaflet Synthetic Heart Valve

Heart valve prostheses have been used successfully since 1960 and generally result in improvement in the longevity and symptomatology of patients with valvular heart disease. However, NIH’s Working Group on Heart Valves reports that 10-year mortality rates still range from 30–55%, and that improvements in valve design are required to minimize thrombotic potential and structural degradation and to improve morbidity and mortality outcomes.