• Journal of Biomedical Engineering Research
• /
• v.17 no.1
• /
• pp.49-60
• /
• 1996

An experimental investigation was performed under steady flow condition to assess hydrodynamic performance of floating-type monoleaflet polymer valves (MLPV) withdifferent leaflet thickness. The St. Jude Medical valve (SJMV) was also used for comparison test. Pressure drops of MLPVS are larger than those for other types of polymer valves and mechanical valves. Furthermore, the thicker is the leaflet thickness of the polymer valve, the larger are the corresponding pressure drop. The velocity profiles for MLPs reveal a large reversed flow region downward to the valve position. The maximum wall shear stresses of MLPVS at a flow rate of $30{\ell}$/min are in the range 50-130 dyn/$cm^2$, and the corresponding maximum Reynolds shear stresses are in the range of 100-500 dyn/$cm^2$, respectively, which are beyond the allowable limit clinically. In contrast, floating-type monoleaflet polymer valves show better hydrodynamic performance in leakage volume. From the designing point of view, it may be concluded that the optimum thickness of leaflet for better hydrodynamic performance is one of the Important parameters.