This study carries out a detailed parameter study based on a nonlinear anisotropic finite-element model published previously. The aim of this study is to identify the stress-reducing influences from geometrical parameters such as stent height, valve diameter, and the nonuniform thickness of porcine aortic valves under static loading condition. The anisotropy of the valve is considered to be transversely isotropic with fibers oriented along the circumferential directions, which enables us to use a simple anisotropic constitutive model using uniaxial experimental data. The results showed that in general, higher stent height and smaller diameter combined with nonuniform thickness give rise to a much more reduced overall stress level. Although the absolute values of the peak stresses may be influenced by the detailed orientations of fibers, the trends of the stress variation with the geometrical factors seem to be qualitatively consistent within the parameter ranges considered.

Issue Section:
Soft Tissues
Keywords:
cardiology, blood vessels, finite element analysis, physiological models, biomechanics, prosthetics
Topics:
Anisotropy, Stress, Valves, Stents
1.
Jamieson
,
W. R. E.
,
Burr
,
L. H.
,
Munro
,
A. I.
, and
Miyagishima
,
R. T.
,
1998
, “
Carpenter-Edwards Standard Porcine Bioprosthesis: A 21-Year Experience
,”
Ann. Thorac. Surg.
,
66
, pp.
40
–
43
.
2.
Ghista
,
D. N.
, and
Reul
,
H.
,
1977
, “
Optimal Prosthetic Aortic Leaflet Valve; Design Parametric and Longevity Analysis: Development of the Avcothane-51 Leaflet Valve Based on the Optimal Design Analysis
,”
J. Biomech.
,
10
, pp.
313
–
324
.
3.
Christine, C. W., and Medland, I. C., 1982, “A Nonlinear Finite-Element Stress Analysis of Bioprosthetic Heart Valve,” In: Finite Element in Biomechanics, Gallagher, R. H., Simon, B. R., Johnson, P. C., and Gross, J. F. eds., Chichester, Wiley, pp. 153–179.
4.
Hamid
,
M. S.
,
Sabbah
,
H. N.
, and
Stein
,
P. D.
,
1985
, “
Finite-Element Evaluation of Stresses on Closed Leaflets of Bioprosthetic Heart Valves With Flexible Stent
,”
Finite Elem. Anal. Design
,
1
, pp.
213
–
225
.
5.
Hamid
,
M. S.
,
Sabbah
,
H. N.
, and
Stein
,
P. D.
,
1986
, “
Influence of Stent Height Upon Stresses on the Cusps of Closed Bioprosthetic Valves
,”
J. Biomech.
,
19
, pp.
759
–
769
.
6.
Rousseau
,
E. P. M.
,
Sauren
,
A. A. H. J.
,
van Hout
,
M. C.
, and
van Steenhoven
,
A. A.
,
1983
, “
Elastic and Viscoelastic Material Behavior of Fresh and Glutaraldehyde-Treated Porcine Aortic Valve Tissue
,”
J. Biomech.
,
16
, pp.
339
–
348
.
7.
Huang
,
X.
,
Black
,
M. M.
,
Howard
,
I. C.
, and
Patterson
,
E. A.
,
1990
, “
Two-Dimensional Finite-Element Analysis of a Bioprosthetic Heart Valve
,”
J. Biomech.
,
23
, pp.
753
–
762
.
8.
Krucinski
,
S.
,
Vesely
,
I.
, and
Dokainish
,
M. A.
,
1993
, “
Numerical Simulation of Leaflet Flexure in Bioprosthetic Heart Valves Mounted on Rigid and Expansible Stents
,”
J. Biomech.
,
26
, pp.
929
–
943
.
9.
Black
,
M. M.
,
Howard
,
I. C.
,
Huang
,
X.
, and
Patterson
,
E. A.
,
1991
, “
Three-Dimensional Finite Element Analysis of a Bioprosthetic Heart Valve
,”
J. Biomech.
,
24
, pp.
793
–
801
.
10.
Patterson
,
E. A.
,
Howard
,
I. C.
, and
Thornton
,
M. A.
,
1996
, “
A Comparative Study of Linear and Nonlinear Simulations of the Leaflets in a Bioprosthetic Heart Valve During Cardiac Cycle
,”
J. of Medical Engineering and Technology
,
20
, pp.
95
–
108
.
11.
Thornton
,
M. A.
,
Howard
,
L. C.
, and
Patterson
,
E. A.
,
1997
, “
Three-Dimensional Stress Analysis of Polypropylene Leaflets for Prosthetic Heart Valves
,”
Med. Eng. Phys.
,
19
, pp.
588
–
597
.
12.
Grande
,
K. J.
,
Cochran
,
R. P.
,
Reinhall
,
P. G.
, and
Kunzelman
,
K. S.
,
1998
, “
Stress Variations in the Human Aortic Root and Valve: The Role of Anatomic Asymmetry
,”
Ann. Biomed. Eng.
,
26
, pp.
534
–
545
.
13.
Grande
,
K. J.
,
Cochran
,
R. P.
,
Reinhall
,
P. G.
, and
Kunzelman
,
K. S.
,
1999
, “
Mechanisms of Aortic Root and Valve Incompetence in Aging: A Finite-Element Model
,”
J. Heart Valve Dis.
,
8
, pp.
149
–
159
.
14.
De Hart
,
J.
,
Cacciola
,
G.
,
Schreurs
,
P. J. G.
, and
Peters
,
G. W. M.
,
1998
, “
A Three-Dimensional Analysis of a Fiber-Reinforced Aortic Valve Prosthetics
,”
J. Biomech.
,
31
, pp.
629
–
638
.
15.
Burriesci
,
G.
,
Howard
,
I. C.
, and
Patterson
,
E. A.
,
1999
, “
The Stress/Strain and Fatigue Behavior of Glutaraldehyde Preserved Heart-Valve Tissue
,”
J. Biomech.
,
10
, pp.
707
–
724
.
16.
Li
,
J.
,
Luo
,
X. Y.
, and
Kuang
,
Z. B.
,
2001
, “
A Nonlnear Anisotropic Model for Porcine Aortic Heart Valves
,”
J. Biomech.
,
34
, pp.
1279
–
1289
.
17.
Mavrilas
,
D.
, and
Missirlis
,
Y.
,
1991
, “
An Approach to the Optimization of Preparation of Bioprosthetic Heart Valves
,”
J. Biomech.
,
24
, pp.
331
–
339
.
18.
Mayne
,
A. S. D.
,
Christie
,
G. M.
,
Smaill
,
B. H.
,
Hunter
,
P. J.
, and
Barratt-Boyes
,
B. G.
,
1989
, “
An Assessment of the Mechanical Properties of Leaflets From Four Second-Generation Porcine Bioprosthese With Biaxial Testing Techniques
,”
J. Thorac. Cardiovasc. Surg.
,
98
, pp.
170
–
180
.
19.
Vesely
,
I.
,
1998
, “
The Role of Elastin in Aortic Valve Mechanics
,”
J. Biomech.
,
31
, pp.
115
–
123
.
20.
Vesely
,
I.
, and
Noseworthy
,
R.
,
1992
, “
Micromechanics of the Fibrosa and the Ventricularis in Aortic Valve Leaflets
,”
J. Biomech.
,
25
, pp.
101
–
113
.
21.
Vesely
,
I.
, and
Lozon
,
A.
,
1993
, “
Natural Preload of Aortic Valve Leaflet Components During Glutaraldehyde Fixation: Effects on Tissue Mechanics
,”
J. Biomech.
,
26
, pp.
121
–
131
.
22.
Vesely
,
I.
,
Boughner
,
D. R.
, and
Leesondietrich
,
J.
,
1995
, “
Bioprosthetic Valve Tissue Viscoelasticity-Implications on Accelerated Pulse Duplicator Testing
,”
Ann. Thorac. Surg.
,
60
, pp.
S379
S379
.
23.
Purinya
,
B.
, and
Kasyanov
,
V.
,
1994
, “
Biomechanical and Structural Properties of the Explanted Bioprosthetic Valve Leaflets
,”
J. Biomech.
,
27
, pp.
1
–
11
.
24.
Billiar
,
K. L.
, and
Sacks
,
M. S.
,
2000a
, “
Biaxial Mechanical Properties of the Native and Glutaraldehyde Treated Aortic Valve Cusp: Part I-Experimental Results
,”
ASME J. Biomech. Eng.
,
122
, pp.
23
–
30
.
25.
Billiar
,
K. L.
, and
Sacks
,
M. S.
,
2000b
, “
Biaxial Mechanical Properties of the Native and Glutaraldehyde Treated Aortic Valve Cusp: Part II-A Structural Constitutive Model
,”
ASME J. Biomech. Eng.
,
122
, pp.
327
–
335
.
26.
Sauran
,
A. A. H.
,
Kuijpers
,
W.
,
van Steenhoven
,
A. A.
, and
Veldpaus
,
F. E.
,
1980
, “
Aortic Valve Histology and Its Relation With Mechanics-Preliminary Report
,”
J. Biomech.
,
13
, pp.
97
–
104
.
27.
Clark
,
R. E.
, and
Finke
,
E. H.
,
1974
, “
Scanning and Light Microscopy of Human Aortic Leaflets in Stressed and Relaxed States
,”
J. Thorac. Cardiovasc. Surg.
,
67
, pp.
792
–
803
.
28.
Milano
,
A.
,
Bortolotti
,
U.
,
Talenti
,
E.
,
Valfre
,
C.
,
Arbustini
,
E.
,
Valente
,
M.
,
Mazzucco
,
A.
,
Gallucci
,
V.
, and
Thiene
,
G.
,
1984
, “
Calcific Degeneration as the Main Cause of Procine Bioprothetic Valve Faiture
,”
Am. J. Cardiol.
,
53
, pp.
1066
–
1070
.
29.
Carpentier
,
A.
,
Dubost
,
C.
,
Lane
,
E.
,
Nashef
,
A.
,
Carpentier
,
S.
,
Relland
,
J.
,
Deloche
,
A.
,
Fabiani
,
J. N.
,
Chauvaud
,
S.
, and
Chauvaud
,
S.
,
1982
, “
Continuing Improvements in Valvular Bioprostheses
,”
J. Thorac. Cardiovasc. Surg.
,
83
, pp.
27
–
42
.
30.
Makhijani
,
V. B.
,
Yang
,
H. Q.
,
Dionne
,
P. J.
, and
Thubrikar
,
M. J.
,
1997
, “
Three-Dimensional Coupled Fluid-Structure Simulation of Pericardical Bioprosthetic Aortic Valve Function
,”
Peric. Aortic Valve Simulation
,
43
, pp.
387
–
392
.
Copyright © 2003
 by ASME
You do not currently have access to this content.