Dynamics of the Aortic Valve Under Normal, Flow Rate-Varied and Heart Rate-Varied Conditions: An In Vitro Study

Aortic valve (AV) disease caused by calcific stenosis is one of the major causes of cardiac related deaths around the world. Studies indicate that abnormal hemodynamics and structural stress fields experienced by the valve leaflets could cause tissue inflammation, which could lead to leaflet calcification and sclerosis [1,2]. However, the mechanics and dynamic properties of the aortic valve under various hemodynamic conditions have not been fully characterized, preventing us from further investigation of this link between mechanics and valve pathology.