A fluid-structure interaction model of the aortic valve with coaptation and compliant aortic root

Gil Marom*, Rami Haj-Ali, Ehud Raanani, Hans Joachim Schäfers, Moshe Rosenfeld

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

81 Scopus citations

Abstract

While aortic valve root compliance and leaflet coaptation have significant influence on valve closure, their implications have not yet been fully evaluated. The present study developed a full fluid-structure interaction (FSI) model that is able to cope with arbitrary coaptation between the leaflets of the aortic valve during the closing phase. Two simplifications were also evaluated for the simulation of the closing phase only. One employs an FSI model with a rigid root and the other uses a ''dry'' (without flow) model. Numerical tests were performed to verify the model. New metrics were defined to process the results in terms of leaflet coaptation area and contact pressure. The axial displacement of the leaflets, closure time and coaptation parameters were similar in the two FSI models, whereas the dry model, with imposed uniform load on the leaflets, produced larger coaptation area and contact pressure, larger axial displacement and faster closure time compared with the FSI model. The differences were up to 30% in the coaptation area, 55% in the contact pressure and 170% in the closure time. Consequently, an FSI model should be used to accurately resolve the kinematics of the aortic valve and leaflet coaptation details during the endclosing stage.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)173-182
Number of pages10
JournalMedical and Biological Engineering and Computing
Volume50
Issue number2
DOIs
StatePublished - Feb 2012

Funding

FundersFunder number
European-Union Marie-Curie
Tel Aviv University
Nicholas and Elizabeth Slezak Super Center for Cardiac Research and Biomedical Engineering

    Keywords

    • Compliant valve
    • Contact
    • Diastole
    • Numerical model

    Fingerprint

    Dive into the research topics of 'A fluid-structure interaction model of the aortic valve with coaptation and compliant aortic root'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

    Cite this