This study was made as the basic research for the developement of the new tri-leaflet valve prosthesis in aortic position.
The analysis of the opening characteristics of normal aortic valve has been made using isolated heart-lung preparations from 5 mongrel dogs.
In the opening phase of aortic valve, increase in the radius of commissure perimeter, distension of free margins of leaflets and circular orifice of the valve were observed.
Therefore, the valve area was larger than the aortic area at three commissures in closing phase.
The hydraulic effect of this mechanism was analyzed using hydraulic simmulation system.The tri-leaflet valveaortic root complex having this mechanism was advantageous in output flow and coefficient of hydraulic energy loss.
According to these experiments, a new type of tri-leaflet valve prosthesis in aortic position was proposed.