Mechanical Characterization of Porcine Tricuspid Valve Anterior Leaflets Over Time: Applications to Ex Vivo Studies

Abstract Mechanical characterization of the ex vivo tricuspid valve (TV) continues to provide key insights into native function and development valvular diseases. However, experimental methods characterize TV biomechanical behavior often fail account for potential changes in tissue’s mechanical responses that may occur during experiment preparation. Therefore, we assessed anterior leaflet (ATL) via biaxial testing over course 5 h validate accuracy our fresh tissue experiments. We hypothesized ATL would remain consistent proposed time scale. found stiffness, represented by upper tangent modulus (UTM), did not significantly change either radial or circumferential directions 5-h test period. Similarly, no significant was observed strains corresponding an estimated mean systolic stress value 85 kPa. Overall UTM (±standard error (SEM)) showed samples were stiffer direction (11.3 ± 0.98 MPa) compared (2.29 0.20 across all points. Thus, results indicate outcomes studies requiring sample preparation up reliable.