Textile valves in vivo performance

In order to test the valve behavior in vivo, two prototypes were implanted in a sheep model (IMM, Paris) in mitral position. The procedure was done under extra-corporeal bypass circulation. The first animal remained alive for 12 h after implantation with satisfactory valve function. The death ensuing came from intrathoracic bleeding. However, the absence of thrombosis on both sides of the fabric surface could be observed once the device was explanted (see Fig. 16.38). The second animal was still alive after 8 weeks 

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Heim, F., Durand, B., Chafke, N. Textile heart valve prosthesis from fabric design criteria to early in-vivo performances. J. Heart Valve Dis. 22, 361-367 (2013)... 

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. 

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