Design and Preliminary Testing of a Quadleaflet ePTFE Pediatric Prosthetic Heart Valve

The aim of this paper is to: 1) showcase the design process of a quadleaflet ePTFE valved conduit with a diameter of 16mm or less and 2) offer a hemodynamic performance comparison. ...The proposed valve was tested using the ViVitro Pulse Duplicator under physiologic cardiac conditions... ...A comparison between the two ePTFE handmade valves (trileaflet and quadleaflet) demonstrated hemodynamic differences in regurgitation due to leaflet number. The handmade valves both showed increased regurgitation compared to a Carbomedics valve (commercially available design). Regurgitation had varying effects on pressure gradients and cardiac output...