Comparison of Materials for Heart Valve Repair and Replacement Using a Valved Conduit Model
Presented During:
Monday, May 4, 2026: 9:00AM - 4:00PM
McCormick Place Lakeside Center
Posted Room Name:
Exhibit Hall, Poster Area
Abstract No:
P0120
Submission Type:
C. Walton Lillehei Resident Forum
Authors:
V. Reed LaSala (1), Mingze Sun (1), Senay Ustunel (1), Elizabeth Cordoves (1), Kavya Rajesh (1), Sophia Jackman (1), Halil Beqaj (1), David Kalfa (1)
Institutions:
(1) Nicklaus Children’s Hospital, Miami, FL
Submitting Author:
V. Reed LaSala
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Nicklaus Children’s Hospital
Nicklaus Children’s Hospital
Co-Author(s):
Mingze Sun
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Nicklaus Children’s Hospital
Nicklaus Children’s Hospital
Senay Ustunel
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Nicklaus Children’s Hospital
Nicklaus Children’s Hospital
Elizabeth Cordoves
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Nicklaus Children’s Hospital
Nicklaus Children’s Hospital
Kavya Rajesh
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Nicklaus Children’s Hospital
Nicklaus Children’s Hospital
Sophia Jackman
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Nicklaus Children’s Hospital
Nicklaus Children’s Hospital
Halil Beqaj
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Nicklaus Children’s Hospital
Nicklaus Children’s Hospital
*David Kalfa
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Nicklaus Children’s Hospital
Nicklaus Children’s Hospital
Presenting Author:
V. Reed LaSala
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NYPH-Columbia University Medical Center
NYPH-Columbia University Medical Center
Abstract:
Objective: Currently available materials for heart valve repair and replacement are prone to structural degeneration and calcification. We aim to develop a novel, durable biomaterial using biostable polymers that mimics the tri-layer microarchitecture of native valve tissue for optimal hydrodynamic function.
Methods: Valved conduits (23 mm diameter) were made using polycarbourethane (PCU) and expanded polytetrafluorethylene (ePTFE) based leaflet materials (n=18, 3 of each material configuration). The valved conduits were fabricated using a novel suture-less technique in which the leaflets were cut from the desired materials and loaded into a mandrel, and a PCU film conduit was then dip coated around the leaflets. The leaflet materials used were lyophilized PCU foam, plate-casted PCU film, PCU film/foam/film (FFF) to recapitulate the tri-layer microarchitecture of native leaflet tissue, and ePTFE from three different industrial manufacturers (W. L. Gore and Associates, International Polymer Engineering (IPE), Zeus Scientific). The resulting valved conduits were tested on a pulse duplicator (HDTi-6000, BDC Laboratories) under aortic and pulmonary conditions to ascertain their hydrodynamic properties, including regurgitation fraction (RF), effective orifice area (EOA), and mean positive pressure difference (PPD). Hydrodynamic properties were compared using the t test and linear regression.
Results: The hydrodynamic properties for each valve leaflet material are shown in Figure B. Under aortic conditions, the PCU FFF valves had lower PPD than the ePTFE-based valves (p=0.01). PCU film valves had a lower RF than with the Zeus ePTFE valves (p<0.01) and the Gore ePTFE valves (p<0.01). Linear regression showed a higher EOA (p=0.04) and lower PPD (p=0.05) for thinner leaflets in PCU-based valves and a lower RF for thinner leaflets in ePTFE-based valves (p<0.01). For all valves tested under pulmonary conditions compared with aortic conditions, the EOA was lower (p<0.01) and the PPD was lower (p<0.01).
Conclusions: A tri-layer PCU-based valve compares favorably with ePTFE-based valves with a lower PPD and no significant difference in other hydrodynamic properties. Changes in hydrodynamic properties due to thickness vary based on leaflet material. The same valves tested under pulmonary conditions had lower EOA and PPD compared with aortic conditions.
Methods: Valved conduits (23 mm diameter) were made using polycarbourethane (PCU) and expanded polytetrafluorethylene (ePTFE) based leaflet materials (n=18, 3 of each material configuration). The valved conduits were fabricated using a novel suture-less technique in which the leaflets were cut from the desired materials and loaded into a mandrel, and a PCU film conduit was then dip coated around the leaflets. The leaflet materials used were lyophilized PCU foam, plate-casted PCU film, PCU film/foam/film (FFF) to recapitulate the tri-layer microarchitecture of native leaflet tissue, and ePTFE from three different industrial manufacturers (W. L. Gore and Associates, International Polymer Engineering (IPE), Zeus Scientific). The resulting valved conduits were tested on a pulse duplicator (HDTi-6000, BDC Laboratories) under aortic and pulmonary conditions to ascertain their hydrodynamic properties, including regurgitation fraction (RF), effective orifice area (EOA), and mean positive pressure difference (PPD). Hydrodynamic properties were compared using the t test and linear regression.
Results: The hydrodynamic properties for each valve leaflet material are shown in Figure B. Under aortic conditions, the PCU FFF valves had lower PPD than the ePTFE-based valves (p=0.01). PCU film valves had a lower RF than with the Zeus ePTFE valves (p<0.01) and the Gore ePTFE valves (p<0.01). Linear regression showed a higher EOA (p=0.04) and lower PPD (p=0.05) for thinner leaflets in PCU-based valves and a lower RF for thinner leaflets in ePTFE-based valves (p<0.01). For all valves tested under pulmonary conditions compared with aortic conditions, the EOA was lower (p<0.01) and the PPD was lower (p<0.01).
Conclusions: A tri-layer PCU-based valve compares favorably with ePTFE-based valves with a lower PPD and no significant difference in other hydrodynamic properties. Changes in hydrodynamic properties due to thickness vary based on leaflet material. The same valves tested under pulmonary conditions had lower EOA and PPD compared with aortic conditions.
Category:
Congenital
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