Cardiac Valve Bioreactor for Physiological Conditioning and Hydrodynamic Performance Assessment

Tissue engineered heart valves (TEHV) are being investigated to address the limitations of currently available valve prostheses... ...A bioreactor system was designed based on the Windkessel approach. Novel features including a purpose-built valve chamber and pressure feedback control were incorporated to maintain asepsis while achieving a range of hydrodynamic conditions.... … The bioreactor was used to assess the hydrodynamic performance of a bioprosthesis and the results were compared to those obtained with a ViVitro Pulse Duplicator system (ViVitro Labs, Victoria, BC, Canada)... ...The bioreactor system was able to produce a range of pressure and flow conditions from static to resting adult left ventricular outflow tract to pathological including hypertension...