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High-Resolution Measurements of Leakage Flow Inside the Hinge of a Large-scale Bileaflet Mechanical Heart Valve Hinge Model

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Abstract

Purpose

It is believed that non-physiological leakage flow through hinge gaps during diastole contributes to thrombus formation in Bileaflet Mechanical Heart Valves (BMHVs). Because of the small scale and difficulty of experimental access, fluid dynamics inside the hinge cavity has not yet been characterised in detail. The objective is to investigate small-scale structure inside the hinge experimentally, and gain insight into its role in stimulating cellular responses.

Methods

An optically accessible scaled-up model of a BMHV hinge was designed and built, preserving dynamic similarity to a clinical BMHV. Particle Image Velocimetry (PIV) was used to visualize and quantify the flow fields inside the hinge at physiological Reynolds number and dimensionless pressure drop. The flow was measured at in-plane and out-of-plane spatial resolution of 32 and 86 μm, respectively, and temporal resolution of \(297\,\mu\hbox{s}.\)

Results

Likely flow separation on the ventricular surface of the cavity has been observed for the first time, and is a source of unsteadiness and perhaps turbulence. The shear stress found in all planes exceeds the threshold of platelet activation, ranging up to 168 Pa.

Conclusions

The scale-up approach provided new insight into the nature of the hinge flow and enhanced understanding of its complexity. This study revealed flow features that may induce blood element damage.

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Acknowledgements

The authors gratefully acknowledge the support of Science Foundation Ireland (SFI) under the Research Frontiers Programme.

Funding

This study was funded by Science Foundation Ireland (grant number 11/RFP.1/ENM/3310).

Conflict of Interest

The authors declared that they have no conflict of interest.

Ethical Approval

This article does not contain any studies with human participants or animals performed by any of the authors.

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  1. Mechanical Engineering, National University of Ireland Galway, Galway, Ireland

    Ewa Klusak & Nathan J. Quinlan

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Correspondence to Nathan J. Quinlan.

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Associate Editor Ajit P. Yoganathan oversaw the review of this article.

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Klusak, E., Quinlan, N.J. High-Resolution Measurements of Leakage Flow Inside the Hinge of a Large-scale Bileaflet Mechanical Heart Valve Hinge Model. Cardiovasc Eng Tech 10, 469–481 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13239-019-00423-4

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