Stability of flow through heart valves: A comparison between the traditional approach and a novel approach

D. Bluestein*, S. Einav, N. H.C. Hwang

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contributionpeer-review

1 Scopus citations

Abstract

The presence of turbulence in blood flow through heart valves is indicative of valvular stenosis. As no satisfying analytical solutions of the stability of pulsatile flow exist, an accurate, unbiased flow stability criteria is needed for the identification of turbulence initiation. The traditional approach uses a stability diagram where α (the Wormersley parameter) is defined by the fundamental heart rate. The novel stability approach involves the decomposition of α into the preferred frequency components. According to this approach, α is derived from the preferred modes induced on the flow by the valve geometry protrusive nature and its leaflets vibrations, rather than the fundamental heart rate. The stability of the flow is represented by a cluster of points, each corresponding to a certain dominant mode apparent in the flow. Transition to turbulence in pulsatile flow through heart valves was investigated using three polymer aortic valve models representing: a normal aortic valve, a 65% stenosed valve and a 90% severely stenosed valve, and two mitral valve models representing a normal mitral valve and a 65% stenosed valve, respectively. Valvular velocity waveforms were measured by laser Doppler anemometry (LDA). Spectral analysis was performed on velocity signals at selected spatial and temporal points to produce the power density spectra, in which the preferred frequency modes were identified. In order to compare our results with those achieved by the traditional approach, the cluster of points was averaged to collapse into a single point, which represents the flow stability. The comparison demonstrates the bias of the traditional stability diagram, which leads to unreliable stability criteria. Our stability approach derives the stability information from measured flow phenomena known to initiate flow instabilities. It differentiates between stabilizing and destabilizing modes and depicts an unbiased and explicit stability diagram of the flow, thus offering a more reliable stability criteria.

Original languageEnglish
Title of host publication1992 Advances in Bioengineering
PublisherPubl by ASME
Pages427-431
Number of pages5
ISBN (Print)0791811166
StatePublished - 1992
Externally publishedYes
EventWinter Annual Meeting of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers - Anaheim, CA, USA
Duration: 8 Nov 199213 Nov 1992

Publication series

NameAmerican Society of Mechanical Engineers, Bioengineering Division (Publication) BED
Volume22

Conference

ConferenceWinter Annual Meeting of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers
CityAnaheim, CA, USA
Period8/11/9213/11/92

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