Examination of Cavitation-Induced Surface Erosion Pitting of a Mechanical Heart Valve Using a Solenoid-Actuated Apparatus

Several factors, including peak dp/dt of the ventricular pressure and maximum closing velocity of leaflet have been studied as indices of the cavitation threshold. In the present study, just before closing velocity of the leaflet has been studied as indices of the cavitation threshold, and cavitation erosion on the surface of a mechanical valve was examined by focusing on squeeze flow and the water hammer phenomenon during the closing period of the valve. A simple solenoid-actuated test device that can directly control the valve closing velocity was developed, and opening-closing tests of 3,000 and 40,000 cycles were performed at various closing velocities. There was a closing velocity threshold to occur erosion pitting of valve surface, and its value was about 0.4 m/s in this study. Cavitation-induced erosion pits were observed only in regions where squeeze flow occurred immediately before valve closure On the other hand, the number of the pits was found to be closely related to an area of water hammer-induced pressure wave below the critical pressure defined by water vapor pressure. Therefore, it was concluded that cavitation is initiated and augmented by the two pressure drops due to squeeze flow and water hammer phenomenon, respectively.