A method for determining the reference effective flow areas for mechanical heart valve prostheses: in vitro validation studies.

BACKGROUND The anatomic opening area (AOA) is usually reported as the primary index of mechanical heart valve function. Because flow contracts immediately distal to an orifice as a result of the vena contracta effect, AOA may not be a good measure of true effective flow area. METHODS AND RESULTS Laser flow imaging was used to visualize the contraction in the jet flow stream as it passed through bileaflet mechanical valves under steady and pulsatile conditions. Such visualization allowed clear measurement of the individual vena contracta areas (VCAs) of the 3 valve orifices. VCAs for side orifices were larger (94+/-2% of AOA) than those through the central orifice (34+/-8%). Formation of large radial vortices around the leaflet tips constricted the central orifice flow stream and appeared to be the main reason for smaller central VCA. Total VCA remained constant until approximately 0.5 orifice diameters ( approximately 1.0 cm) downstream, beyond which cross-sectional area increased as a result of entrainment of receiving chamber flow. Total VCA was larger for steady flow (89.6+/-2.7% of AOA) than for pulsatile flow (76.3+/-5.0% of AOA). CONCLUSIONS This study further clarifies flow dynamics through bileaflet mechanical valves and provides previously unavailable reference information on VCAs for these valves. Such information should aid clinicians in explaining Doppler-derived and catheter-measured pressure discrepancies, validating clinical techniques for quantifying effective flow areas, and optimizing valve size for implantation. The method should also be useful for comparative studies of different valve designs.