ALTERING HEART VALVE LEAFLET ATTACHMENT GEOMETRY TO INFLUENCE THE LOCATION AND MAGNITUDE OF MAXIMUM LOADED STRESS ON THE LEAFLET

摘要

The durability of tri-leaflet valves is improved by moving the point of maximum loaded stress on the free edge (18) of the leaflet (14) away from the location of stress risers. The point of maximum loaded stress is moved by changing the geometry of the attachment curve (16) between the leaflet (14) and the valve body (12). The geometry of the attachment curve (16) is changed by changing the shape of the valve body (12) or the shape of the leaflet (14).