Abstract
Several important design problems with contemporary mechanical heart valve (MHV) prostheses such as thrombus formation and hemolytic trauma can be attributed to the valve fluid dynamics. Blood flow in the vicinity of the valve is influenced by valve motion which, in turn, is influenced by time-varying fluid-imposed lift and drag forces on the occluder. Thus, the valve fluid and structure dynamics are linked through complex fluid-structure interactions. In order to develop design criteria for MHVs with improved valve closure efficiency and minimized flow resistance and fluid shear stresses, both valve occluder and blood flow dynamics need to be simultaneously considered.
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Copyright © 1996 by The American Society of Mechanical Engineers
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