Chordae Rupture Alters Tricuspid Valve Leaflet Biomechanics

This study examines how tricuspid valve chordae tendineae rupture immediately disrupts valve function and biomechanics. Using an ex vivo passive beating‑heart system powered by the ViVitro Labs pulsatile pump, SuperPump, researchers simulated physiologic right‑heart flow in porcine hearts and measured leaflet deformation with high‑precision sonomicrometry. After severing a septal chordae bundle, the researchers observed an acute 5 mmHg drop in pulmonary artery pressure and a 12% increase in maximum principal stretch in the septal leaflet, indicating rapid-onset regurgitation and mechanical overload of the leaflet. Analysis of regional deformation and strain patterns revealed global and spatially heterogeneous mechanical changes, especially near the rupture site. In this ex vivo experiment, researchers demonstrated how ViVitro Labs’ technology enables precise replication of complex right-heart mechanics, helping explain why tricuspid regurgitation often progresses over time, and supporting deeper insight into leaflet remodeling responses and future therapeutic strategies.