Hostname: page-component-cd9895bd7-jn8rn Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-12-18T21:59:49.226Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

A fluid-mechanical study of the closure of heart valves

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  19 April 2006

C. S. F. Lee
Affiliation:
Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of California, Berkeley
L. Talbot
Affiliation:
Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of California, Berkeley

Abstract

The fluid mechanics of heart-valve motion is investigated experimentally and theoretically. From the experiments, it is found that the principal mechanism ensuring optimal mitral-valve closure is the pressure field induced by a strong flow deceleration through the valve. A complete theory, evolved from the Bellhouse & Talbot analytical model, is developed for both the mitral and the aortic valve to provide a relationship between valve motion and valve flow. Results predicted by this theory agree consistently well with those obtained from experiments.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
© 1979 Cambridge University Press

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Bellhouse, B. J. & Bellhouse, F. H. 1969 Circulation Res. 25, 693.
Bellhouse, B. J. & Bellhouse, F. H. 1971 The fluid mechanics of a model mitral valve and left ventricle. Oxford Univ. Engng Sci. Lab. Rep. no. 1013/71.Google Scholar
Bellhouse, B. J. & Bellhouse, F. H. 1972 Cardiovasc. Res. 6, 199.
Bellhouse, B. J., Bellhouse, F. H., Abbott, J. A. & Talbot, L. 1973 Cardiovasc. Res. 4, 490.
Bellhouse, B. J. & Talbot, L. 1969 J. Fluid Mech. 35, 721.
Henderson, Y. & Johnson, F. E. 1912 Heart 4, 69.
Lee, C. S. F. 1977 Fluid mechanical study of mitral valve motion. Ph.D. thesis, Mechanical Engineering Dept., University of California, Berkeley (U.C. Rep. no. FM-77-1).
Netter, F. H. 1969 The Ciba Collection of Medical Illustrations, vol. 5. Heart. CIBA, Summit, N.Y.
Peskin, C. S. 1972 Flow patterns around heart valves. Ph.D. thesis, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Yeshiva University, New York.
Snuggs, T. A. & Aggarwal, J. K. 1975 Steady and unsteady flow in a semi-cylindrical hollow. Oxford Univ. Engng Sci. Lab. Rep. no. 1118/75.Google Scholar
Spaan, J. A. E., van Steenhoven, A. A., van der Schaar, P. J., van Dongen, M. E. H., Smulders, P. T. & Leliveld, W. H. 1975 Trans. Am. Soc. Artif. Int. Organs 21, 396.