Heart valve replacement technology

Abstract This chapter discusses the potential of textiles used as heart valve leaflet replacement material. The chapter first reviews the anatomy of the aortic valve, before describing the diseases the valve may undergo and the limits of the noninvasive technologies available to replace the faulty valve. It then presents textile valve manufacture, and the performance that can be obtained in vitro in both the short and long term. Early animal in vivo results are presented in the last section. 

Nonlimb Prosthetic Devices. Other prosthetic devices include artificial eyes, breasts, heart valves, and pacemakers. The body s natural heart valve may need to be surgically replaced if it no longer functions properly because of disease, aging, or a birth defect. This vital prosthetic heart component is made from plastic, metal, or pig tissue. Calcification of the prosthetic heart valves is the major cause of product problems, and efforts have been aimed at constructing artificial valves with surfaces that resist calcification. Technological advancements in the durability of the tissue heart valves are also an area of research and could be more applicable to younger patients. 

---