April 25, 2009 | 8 comments

Slide Show: 7 Artificial Valves That Lend Hearts a Helping Hand

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

By Amber Dance

< Prev 1 of 7 Next >

CLICK TO ENLARGE + © EDWARDS LIFESCIENCES

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.

< Prev 1 of 7 Next >

More to Explore

Related Article
Artificial heart valve improvements over the past 50 years

Read Comments (8) | Post a comment

You Might Also Like

Discuss This Article

Click here to submit your comment.

VIEW:



	Email:
	Name:
	Address:
	Address 2:
	City:
	State:

Subscription Center

World Changing Ideas

Video ContestInnovation is the key to a better future. Enter your own World Changing Ideas videos in our contest.

Editor's Pick

Time to Ban Production of Nuclear Weapons MaterialA new global treaty that cuts off production of plutonium and highly enriched uranium for nuclear weapons could jump-start nuclear disarmament and help prevent proliferation