For the past five decades, artificial heart-valve designs have evolved to successfully replace natural valves, which often begin to leak or harden over time
The first successful artificial heart valve was this marble-in-a-cage model developed by Miles "Lowell" Edwards and cardiothoracic surgeon Albert Starr and first used in 1960....[More]
MARBLE-IN-A-CAGE
The first successful artificial heart valve was this marble-in-a-cage model developed by Miles "Lowell" Edwards and cardiothoracic surgeon Albert Starr and first used in 1960. When resting against the ring, the caged ball prevents backward blood flow into the heart. When the heart beats, the outflow of blood pushes the ball forward and the blood can flow around the ball. However, the ball slows blood flow to below a normal rate, and people with these valves could not perform strenuous activity.
[Less]
[Link to this slide]
The marble-in-a-cage valve took up a lot of space, pressing on other body parts, so valve-makers sought a flatter design. Tilting discs like this design, invented in 1977 and still in use today, rely on a disc that flips open "like a toilet seat," Yoganathan says....[More]
TILTING DISC
The marble-in-a-cage valve took up a lot of space, pressing on other body parts, so valve-makers sought a flatter design. Tilting discs like this design, invented in 1977 and still in use today, rely on a disc that flips open "like a toilet seat," Yoganathan says. When open, it also allows more blood through than the ball design did.
[Less]
[Link to this slide]
The most common mechanical valve in use today is this double-door design, first implanted in the 1970s, made of carbon-based material with two flaps that open and close with the pumping of blood....[More]
SALOON DOORS
The most common mechanical valve in use today is this double-door design, first implanted in the 1970s, made of carbon-based material with two flaps that open and close with the pumping of blood. Mechanical valves are durable and long-lasting, but because they can cause dangerous blood clots to form, patients must take blood thinners such as warfarin for the rest of their lives. That, in turn, increases the risk of stroke.
[Less]
[Link to this slide]
To avoid the risk of blood clots, Parisian doctor Alain Carpentier developed pig valves, first implanted in 1965. Valve-makers use the chemical glutaraldehyde, a common tissue stabilizer used in laboratories and embalming, to sterilize and inactivate the tissue so the patient's immune system won't attack it....[More]
PIG VALVES
To avoid the risk of blood clots, Parisian doctor Alain Carpentier developed pig valves, first implanted in 1965. Valve-makers use the chemical glutaraldehyde, a common tissue stabilizer used in laboratories and embalming, to sterilize and inactivate the tissue so the patient's immune system won't attack it.
[Less]
[Link to this slide]
Today, many valves are made from cows, with tissue mounted in a wire frame covered with Dacron fabric, a design around since the 1980s. Cutting leaflets out of the sac that surrounds a cow's heart, valve-makers can make any required shape or size; they can also use chemicals to make the tissue less likely to attract the calcium that can harden a valve....[More]
COW-BASED VALVES
Today, many valves are made from cows, with tissue mounted in a wire frame covered with Dacron fabric, a design around since the 1980s. Cutting leaflets out of the sac that surrounds a cow's heart, valve-makers can make any required shape or size; they can also use chemicals to make the tissue less likely to attract the calcium that can harden a valve.
[Less]
[Link to this slide]
Open-heart surgery is not an option for many patients of fragile health, so researchers designed this collapsible valve—available since 2007 in Europe, but not yet approved in the U.S.—that can be slipped into an artery without cutting open the chest....[More]
COLLAPSIBLE VALVE
Open-heart surgery is not an option for many patients of fragile health, so researchers designed this collapsible valve—available since 2007 in Europe, but not yet approved in the U.S.—that can be slipped into an artery without cutting open the chest. It scrunches down to pencil-width so a surgeon can thread it from a blood vessel in the leg up to the heart, then use a balloon to inflate it, pushing the old valve out of the way.
[Less]
[Link to this slide]
Sometimes a whole new valve is unnecessary, and a surgeon can use a ring like this to restructure the faulty valve. "Repair is definitely a lot better," Yoganathan says....[More]
VALVE REPAIR
Sometimes a whole new valve is unnecessary, and a surgeon can use a ring like this to restructure the faulty valve. "Repair is definitely a lot better," Yoganathan says. "You still maintain a lot of the natural function." According to the Mayo Clinic, the original valve better resists infection, does not require blood thinners and generally means a longer life expectancy. Yoganathan predicts more repair devices will be available in the future.
[Less]
[Link to this slide]
YES! Send me a free issue of Scientific American with no obligation to continue the subscription. If I like it, I will be billed for the one-year subscription.
I had my aortic valve replaced two months ago, with the valve pictured in slide 6. It is an Edwards bovine tissue valve, model 3000TFX. I am going cross country skiing for a short run tomorrow. This or the mechanical valve are the two main choices out there.
Mechanical lasts basically forever, but you are on blood thinners permanently, so risk of stroke is higher.
The Edwards Bovine tissue does not require thinners, except for a short time after surgery, but does not last as long. Newest reports on longevity are encouraging. I suggest you check out the Cleveland Clinic website. It is the premier heart surgery hospital in the country, and has tons of good information.
It is also possible that your valve can be repaired rather than replaced at Cleveland or one of the other top heart centers. This option is the preferred one if it can be done.
To tell you the truth I don`t know a lot about that, however my uncle did an operation to introduce an aortic valve, but it requires a blood thinner. Anyway, he is much better know and he looks more young.
Do you think that nanotubes can be used as aortic valves?
The downside to valve replacement surgery is the time it takes to perform the task, anywhere from 2-5 hours depending on complications. During this period you are kept alive artificially whist the heart is worked on. Setting aside the obvious problems that might occur with the heart, the brain, because of the change in support will begin to 'die', losing cells at a phenomenal rate and the longer your surgery takes the more cells you will lose and this is serious. Hence, minimally invasive surgery would be a major step forward not just because of the question of brain damage but also the, for many, recovery time would be improved drastically. I'm certain that video surgery involving robots has already been successfully carried out in the repair of valves and no doubt, this area of telesurgery will advance exponentially.
I SAW MYT VALES IN ACTION WITH ONE VALVE CUSPING TIGHTLY CLOSED FORMED INTO A NICELY FORMED PIRAMID CONFIGURATION BUT THE OTHER VALVE ALTHOUGH IT DID NOT LEAK WAS MUCH MORE FLAT. tHIS CAUSED ME TO THINK THAT THE MORE FLAT CONFIGURED VALVE WILL EVENTUALLY BEGIN TO LEAK; OR PERHAPS THE SAID CONFIGURATIONS OF THESE TWO HEART VALVES ARE NORMAL AND EACH ONE WILL LAST AS LONG WITHOUT LEAKING EXCEPT PERHAPS IN A HIGHTLY TRAUMATIC IMPACT OR DISEASED EVENT.
Negative that being on blood thinners increases the risks of strokes! Absolute myth!
I have double-valve mechanical valves in the aortic & mitral position since 1975 & have been on anticoagulatants (blood thinner) for 34 years & have never had a stroke because of it. I have also live a very active life, participating in sports etc., without any complications due to coumadin.
I also have mechanical aortic and mitral valve's. I've had them since 1993 and have been taking warfarin since then with no strokes. I thought I was a one of a kind suprised to see that someone else had something similar since the 70's that's good to know. btw i like hiking (not gonna win any races) and really enjoy snowboarding as well. Had four open heart surgeries from age 2 to age 11. 3 at UCSF and one at UCLA
Heart valve surgery is used to repair or replace diseased heart valves. The blood that flows between the various chambers of your heart has to flow through a heart valve. The blood flowing from his heart in the large arteries should undergo a heart valve. These valves open enough so that blood can flow through. They then close, keeping blood from flowing backward. There are four valves in your heart: Aortic, The mitral valve, The tricuspid valve, Pulmonary Valve. http://www.insideheart.com/aortic-valve-replacement.html
How is <a href="http://WWW.CAPITOL-HOMECARE.COM">home care</a> affected with patients with artificial heart valves? Do you only need to worry about their cepera or is there any other things we need to watch with an artificial valve?
Gene Linked to Lupus-like Disease
Physical Activity Better Predictor of Heart Disease Risk Than Obesity Is
New Approach Visualizes Healing Hearts
13 Comments
Add CommentI've got a bicuspid Aortic valve that will need replaced give mre some details!
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisI have a bicuspid aortic valve that will need replaced. Give me some details!
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisWow you have to admit that is pretty amazing!
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisRT
www.anonymity.es.tc
I had my aortic valve replaced two months ago, with the valve pictured in slide 6. It is an Edwards bovine tissue valve, model 3000TFX. I am going cross country skiing for a short run tomorrow. This or the mechanical valve are the two main choices out there.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisMechanical lasts basically forever, but you are on blood thinners permanently, so risk of stroke is higher.
The Edwards Bovine tissue does not require thinners, except for a short time after surgery, but does not last as long. Newest reports on longevity are encouraging. I suggest you check out the Cleveland Clinic website. It is the premier heart surgery hospital in the country, and has tons of good information.
It is also possible that your valve can be repaired rather than replaced at Cleveland or one of the other top heart centers. This option is the preferred one if it can be done.
Good Luck.
To tell you the truth I don`t know a lot about that, however my uncle did an operation to introduce an aortic valve, but it requires a blood thinner. Anyway, he is much better know and he looks more young.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisDo you think that nanotubes can be used as aortic valves?
The downside to valve replacement surgery is the time it takes to perform the task, anywhere from 2-5 hours depending on complications. During this period you are kept alive artificially whist the heart is worked on. Setting aside the obvious problems that might occur with the heart, the brain, because of the change in support will begin to 'die', losing cells at a phenomenal rate and the longer your surgery takes the more cells you will lose and this is serious.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisHence, minimally invasive surgery would be a major step forward not just because of the question of brain damage but also the, for many, recovery time would be improved drastically.
I'm certain that video surgery involving robots has already been successfully carried out in the repair of valves and no doubt, this area of telesurgery will advance exponentially.
I SAW MYT VALES IN ACTION WITH ONE VALVE CUSPING TIGHTLY CLOSED FORMED INTO A NICELY FORMED PIRAMID CONFIGURATION BUT THE OTHER VALVE ALTHOUGH IT DID NOT LEAK WAS MUCH MORE FLAT. tHIS CAUSED ME TO THINK THAT THE MORE FLAT CONFIGURED VALVE WILL EVENTUALLY BEGIN TO LEAK; OR PERHAPS THE SAID CONFIGURATIONS OF THESE TWO HEART VALVES ARE NORMAL AND EACH ONE WILL LAST AS LONG WITHOUT LEAKING EXCEPT PERHAPS IN A HIGHTLY TRAUMATIC IMPACT OR DISEASED EVENT.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisNegative that being on blood thinners increases the risks of strokes! Absolute myth!
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisI have double-valve mechanical valves in the aortic & mitral position since 1975 & have been on anticoagulatants (blood thinner) for 34 years & have never had a stroke because of it. I have also live a very active life, participating in sports etc., without any complications due to coumadin.
Taking coumadin and having the probability having a stroke is all depends on:
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to this1. Diet, specially Vitamin K
2. Irregular taking coumadin dosage
3. or stop taking coumadin...
4. and wheather ...
A friend stopped taking coumadin, and later a month had a stroke causing disable to talk!
I also have mechanical aortic and mitral valve's. I've had them since 1993 and have been taking warfarin since then with no strokes. I thought I was a one of a kind suprised to see that someone else had something similar since the 70's that's good to know. btw i like hiking (not gonna win any races) and really enjoy snowboarding as well. Had four open heart surgeries from age 2 to age 11. 3 at UCSF and one at UCLA
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisHeart valve surgery is used to repair or replace diseased heart valves. The blood that flows between the various chambers of your heart has to flow through a heart valve. The blood flowing from his heart in the large arteries should undergo a heart valve. These valves open enough so that blood can flow through. They then close, keeping blood from flowing backward. There are four valves in your heart: Aortic, The mitral valve, The tricuspid valve, Pulmonary Valve.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thishttp://www.insideheart.com/aortic-valve-replacement.html
How is <a href="http://WWW.CAPITOL-HOMECARE.COM">home care</a> affected with patients with artificial heart valves? Do you only need to worry about their cepera or is there any other things we need to watch with an artificial valve?
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thishow can affect weather my health if i take comadin?
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to this