2015

Heart Valve Prosthesis

JAMADAGNI PARITI
Problem:
Heart valve is one of the most complex body organs to manufacture, not because of the design,
because of the large amount of cyclic stresses and pressures experienced by it. These stresses
and pressures, result in fatigue failure of the prosthetic heart valves. Current research is
focused in making a prosthetic heart valve which has the positives qualities of both mechanical
and bio heart valves. Many new materials and manufacturing methods are being tested to
create better heart valve prosthesis’.

Current Research:
Dr. T. G. Mackay et.al have proposed a new polyurethane, tri leaflet valve. This valve is entirely
made of polyurethane. The leaflets are integrated with their support frame in a single dip
coating operation. This procedure gives the valve the same pressure gradient as that of
bioprosthetic valves. These valves have been tested and shown to have a minimum life of 10
years.

Dr. Bin Duan et.al suggest the use of 3D printing to print living alginate/ gelatin hydrogel valve
conduits with anatomical architecture and direct incorporation of dual cell types in a regionally
constricted manner. Though the research is at a preliminary level, it is one of the most
promising methods for the tissue engineering of heart valves.

Dr. Ralph Sodian et.al have proposed a new method for the fabrication of scaffolds for the
tissue engineering of heart valves. Stereolithographic models derived from x-ray tomography
are used to recreate the complex anatomic structure of the heart valve. These models are used
to create biocompatible and biodegradable heart valve scaffolds using a thermal process using
a thermos plastic polymer. This method can be used to create accurate anatomically complex
scaffolds for the tissue engineering of heart valves.

My Solution:
My current project aims at proposing a new technique/ or a process which can combine all the
positive features of the above procedures and thereby aiming to manufacture a highly durable
and compatible heart valve prosthesis. My approach is to propose a hybrid process which
combines rapid prototyping and tissue engineering in a very effective and efficient way to make
the best use of the material and designs available.
References:
1. T.G Mackay, D.J. Wheatley, G.M. Bernacca, A.C. Fisher and C.S. Hindle, New Polyuretheane
heart valve prosthesis: design, manufacture and evaluation
2. E. Filova, F. Straka, T. Mirejovsky, J. Masin, L. Bacakova, Tissue-Engineered Heart Valves
3. Bin Duan, Laura A. Hockaday, Kevin H. Kang, Jonathan T. Buthcer, 3D bioprinting of
heterogeneous aortic valve conduits with alginate/ gelatin hydrogels
4. Ralf Sodian, Matthias Loebe, Andreas Hein, David P. Martin, Simon P. Hoerstrup, Evgenij V.
Potapov, Harald Hausmann, Tim Lueth, Roland Hetzer, Application of stereolithography for
scaffold fabrication for tissue engineered heart valves
5. Fabian Konig, Trixi Hollweck, Stefan Pfeifer, Bruno Reichart, Erich Wintermantel, Christian
Hagl, Bassil Akra, A pulsatile bioreactor for conditioning of tissue engineered cardiovascular
constructs under endoscopic visualization

6. L.A. Hockaday, K.H. Kang, N.W. Colangelo, P.Y.C. Cheung, B. Duan, E. Malone, J. Wu, L.N.
Girardi, L.J. Bonassar, H. Lipson, C.C Chu, J.T. Butcher, Rapid 3D orienting of anatomically
accurate and mechanically heterogeneous aortic valve hydrogel scaffolds