Accelerated fatigue test in vitro of expanded polytetrafluoroethylene artificial heart valve / 南方医科大学学报

ABSTRACT

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the durability of expanded polytetrafluoroethylene artificial heart valve (ePTFE AHV).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Six ePTFE AHVs were tested for 400 million times against accelerated fatigue using TH-2200 artificial heart valve exosomatic accelerated fatigue instrument. Hydromechanical parameters of fore-and-aft accelerated fatigue test of the 6 AHVs were obtained by TH-1200 artificial heart valve exosomatic pulsatile stream instrument.</p><p><b>RESULTS AND CONCLUSION</b>The mean gradient pressure spanning the valve and the effective orific area of ePTFE AHVs did not undergo significant changes after fore-and-aft the fatigue test, but the regurgitation volume and regurgitation rate of ePTFE AHVs were reduced after the accelerated fatigue test, suggesting good durability of ePTFE AHV.</p>