A Biomechanical and Microstructural Analysis of Bovine and Porcine Pericardium for Use in Bioprosthetic Heart Valves

BackgroundAnimal-derived pericardium is a key material that enables the successful clinical use of bioprosthetic heart valves. Recently, transcatheter valves have placed more emphasis on enhancement this tissue, especially in terms producing uniform, thin, durable tissue. In study, we provide new method to achieve thinner tissue and insights into how consistent which potentially may lead valves.MethodsWe compared four groups tissue: porcine pericardium, bovine pericardium; delaminated serous fibrous pericardium. The properties were: surface characteristics, collagen fiber alignment, alignment patterns, tensile mechanical properties.ResultsWe produced had statistically significantly reduced roughness was not mechanically inferior. Furthermore, demonstrated has distinct directions between sides. maximum observed difference average angles different sides 52.3° (±25.9°) 33.4° (±27.1°) for different.ConclusionThe results indicate screening valve leaflet pericardial identify optimally aligned viable. We propose an alternative approach: utilizing with eccentricity values below threshold value 0.65 discarding above 0.65. If procedures are available, our suggest non-screened would produce properties, as areas fibers consistently present