TRANSCATHETER AORTIC VALVES: A FINITE ELEMENT STUDY OF LEAFLET STRESS DISTRIBUTION IN THE IN VIVO ENVIRONMENT

摘要

In the present study we used FEA to investigate the biomechanical environment of a TAV implanted into a patient specific aortic root. We examined the valve stent deployment into a "D shaped" aortic annulus and subsequent stresses induced in the annulus wall and the valve tissue leaflets. Although the results obtained are specific to one particular aortic root anatomy, this study represents a first step towards the assessment of the complex interplay between a TAV and its surrounding in vivo environment. Future work will include the effects of dynamic loading of the aortic root during the cardiac cycle. These results will inform the design and preclinical testing of the long term behavior of implanted TAV's.