Numerical Analysis on Adaptability of Valve Leaflets after Single Valve Replacement in Children / 医用生物力学

Objective To explore the biomechanical mechanism of aortic insufficiency (AI) after single aortic valve replacement (SAVR) in children and propose the corresponding countermeasures. Methods The idealized aortic valve model and postoperative growth model were constructed. By changing the length of leaflet free edge, leaflet height as well as improving the design with a concave structure, the effects of different structure dimensions on movement synchronization and closing performance of the aortic valve after surgery were compared. Results The closure of the replacement leaflet lagged behind the autologous leaflet, which fitted 2 mm below free edge of the replacement leaflet. AI occurred 6 years after operation. Increasing leaflet height could not improve the postoperative effect and would increase the maximum stress of the leaflet. Increasing free edge length by 10% could improve the postoperative outcomes, while increasing free edge length by 15% would cause the leaflet to be too long, hence resulting in a poor fit of the aortic valve. Compared with the traditional structure, the concave structure was more beneficial for closing performance of the aortic valve, and it could effectively reduce the maximum stress by 20% with the best effect. Conclusions The leaflet movement will be out of synchronization after SAVR, the point of convergence will be shifted, and AI will appear 6 years after surgery. It is recommended to use a concave structure with free edge length increased by 10%, while increasing leaflet height is not recommended.

Influence of valve height on the opening/closure performance of transplanted aortic valve / 生物医学工程学杂志

Valve transplantation is often used in the treatment of aortic valve insufficiency. However, after surgery, the reconstructed aortic roots have an expansion phenomenon, in which the lack of valve height causes the aortic valve to close again. In this paper, the effects of different aortic valve height design on valve opening and closing performance were studied. The optimal surgical plan was obtained by numerical simulation, providing technical support and theoretical basis. In this paper, six groups of three-dimensional geometric models with a valve height increment of ± 0.5 mm were established with a root diameter of 26.0 mm and a valve height of 14.0 mm. Through the structural mechanics calculation and analysis of the parameters such as maximum stress, valve area and contact force of the model, reasonable geometrical dimensions are obtained. The study found that the maximum stress values of the six groups of models ranged from 640 to 690 kPa, which was consistent with the results of the literature; the three-group models with valve heights of 13.5 mm, 14.0 mm, and 14.5 mm were within a reasonable range. The contact force value of the 6 groups of leaflets increased with the increase of valve height. Studies have shown that the height of the aortic valve has an effect on the aortic valve closure performance. A valve height that is too small or too large will reduce the aortic systolic valve area and affect the aortic function.

Effect of sinus diameter on the opening and closing performance of aortic valve under the expansion of aortic root / 生物医学工程学杂志

This study aims to explore the effect of aortic sinus diameter on aortic valve opening and closing performance in the case of no obvious disease of aortic valve and annulus and continuous dilation of aortic root. A total of 25 three-dimensional aortic root models with different aortic sinus and root diameters were constructed according to the size of clinical surgical guidance. The valve sinus diameter S is set to 32, 36, 40, 44 and 48 mm, respectively, and the aortic root diameter is set to 26, 27, 28, 29 and 30 mm, respectively. Through the structural mechanics calculation with the finite element software, the maximum stress, valve orifice area, contact force and other parameters of the model are analyzed to evaluate the valve opening and closing performance under the dilated state. The study found that aortic valve stenosis occurs when the = 32 mm, = 26, 27 mm and = 36 mm, = 26 mm. Aortic regurgitation occurs when the = 32, 36 and 40 mm, = 30 mm and = 44, 48 mm, = 29, 30 mm. The other 15 models had normal valve movement. The results showed that the size of the aortic sinus affected the opening and closing performance of the aortic valve. The smaller sinus diameter adapted with the larger root diameter and the larger sinus diameter adapted with the smaller root diameter. When the sinus diameter is 40 mm, the mechanical performance of the valve are good and it can well adapt with the relatively large range of aortic root dilation.

Finite Element Analysis on Partially Closed and Fully Opened Aortic Valve / 医用生物力学

Objective To explore the effect of different initial state setting on a valve simulation. Methods Two-dimensional structural models were established with the initial state of the aortic valve being partially closed in one model and fully opened in the other. The time-dependent load was applied to the valve and the vessel wall of the aortic and the ventricle sides. The finite element method was used to study the maximum stress, the length of the joint, and the contact force of the closed aortic valve under two different initial states. Results The stress and contact force of the aortic valve were relatively large at the closed position when the initial state was fully opened. The closure degree of the valve was low, and the variations in stress and closure degree were large during the periodic cycle. The stress and contact force of the valve were relatively small when the aortic valve was partially closed. The closure degree was high, and the variations in stress and closure degree of the aortic valve were small during the periodic cycle. Conclusions In the case of the aortic valve partially closed in the initial state, the stability of the calculation process and the closure degree of the valve were relatively high, which should be given more consideration in numerical simulation. The results can be used to study the mechanical behavior of the valve and the biomechanical mechanism of the aortic root.

Study on optimal selection of structure of vaneless centrifugal blood pump with constraints on blood perfusion and on blood damage indexes / 生物医学工程学杂志

This paper is aimed to study the optimal selection of structure of vaneless centrifugal blood pump. The optimal objective is determined according to requirements of clinical use. Possible schemes are generally worked out based on structural feature of vaneless centrifugal blood pump. The optimal structure is selected from possible schemes with constraints on blood perfusion and blood damage indexes. Using an optimal selection method one can find the optimum structure scheme from possible schemes effectively. The results of numerical simulation of optimal blood pump showed that the method of constraints of blood perfusion and blood damage is competent for the requirements of selection of the optimal blood pumps.