THE PRINCIPLES AND IN VIVO PERFORMANCE OF THE EDINBURGH PIVOTED AEROFOIL-DISC PROSTHETIC HEART VALVE

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Abstract
Prototypes of the Edinburgh prosthetic heart valve, known from previous experiments in vitro to promote exceptionally smooth and undisturbed forward flow, have been shown here in canine experiments to possess hemodynamic characteristics not inferior to those of the Bjork-Shiley valve (a present standard of excellence). In addition, we report a low incidence of valve thrombus deposition among calves in which this prototype valve, fabricated from the conventional materials, Delrin and stainless steel, has been implanted in the tricuspid site for up to 100 days without use of anticoagulants. This suggests that the design of the valve is such as to render it of low thrombogenicity. The new valve is designed for fabrication throughout in vitreous or pyro-coated carbon, materials of very high inherent athrombogenicity. It appears from the results discussed here that the developed form of the prosthesis, composed wholly of these athrombogenic materials, is likely to have both acceptable hemodynamic characteristics and an exceptionally low tendency to form thrombus. The introduction of such valves promises to be very advantageous and the results given here appear to warrant their development as the next stage of this program.

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