Login | Register

Numerical and Experimental Investigations of Pulsatile Blood Flow through a Dysfunctional Mechanical Heart Valve

Title:

Numerical and Experimental Investigations of Pulsatile Blood Flow through a Dysfunctional Mechanical Heart Valve

Smadi, Othman Ahmed (2011) Numerical and Experimental Investigations of Pulsatile Blood Flow through a Dysfunctional Mechanical Heart Valve. PhD thesis, Concordia University.

[thumbnail of Smadi_PhD_S2012.pdf]
Preview
Text (application/pdf)
Smadi_PhD_S2012.pdf - Accepted Version
4MB

Abstract

Despite the marked improvement in prosthetic heart valve design and functionality, thromboembolism, structural failure, endocarditis and hemolysis are still possible complications. In such cases, native heart valve disease is replaced with “prosthetic heart valve disease”. Bileaflet Mechanical Heart Valve (BMHV) dysfunction can cause serious and potentially fatal complications.
In vivo, in vitro, and Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) studies were conducted on dysfunctional BMHVs in order to: (1) investigate the relationship between blood flow patterns downstream of the dysfunctional BMHV and the levels of hemolysis and/or thrombus formation; (2) to evaluate the limitations of the hemodynamic parameters and cutoff values suggested by the American Society of Echocardiography (ASE) guidelines; and (3) to improve the accuracy of the current diagnosis methods using the same clinical modalities and settings.
Pulsatile two-dimensional and two phase flow numerical simulations revealed that the flow upstream and downstream of a dysfunctional mechanical heart valve was highly influenced by dysfunction severity and this resulted in discrepancies between Doppler echocardiography and numerically derived transvalvular pressure gradients. Moreover, the flow downstream of the dysfunctional valve was characterized by abnormally elevated shear stress and large-scale vortices. These flow characteristics can predispose to blood components damage.
Three-dimensional Fluid-Structure Interaction (FSI) numerical modeling showed that the flow nature is three-dimensional and time dependent, especially with the existence of valve dysfunction. A pulsatile 3-D FSI numerical model should be used when the evolution of the vortical structure downstream of the BMHV is the objective of the study. Only flow characteristics through the central orifice are measured by the current diagnosis methods. Therefore, revisiting the assumptions and the theory behind the current clinical method is critical in order to include the flow through the two lateral orifices.
A practical mathematical model was proposed for predicting the normal reference values of Doppler-derived parameters for BMHVs. The new theoretical model overcomes the shortcomings of the parameters suggested by the ASE guidelines by taking into account flow conditions (Left Ventricle Outflow Tract (LVOT) measurements), valve size and valve type. The accuracy of diagnosis significantly improved using the new theoretical parameters compared to those suggested by the ASE. Finally, the new method improved the way to evaluate of the performance of BMHVs, not only after implantation, but also early during the stage of design and manufacturing.

Divisions:Concordia University > Gina Cody School of Engineering and Computer Science > Mechanical and Industrial Engineering
Item Type:Thesis (PhD)
Authors:Smadi, Othman Ahmed
Institution:Concordia University
Degree Name:Ph. D.
Program:Mechanical Engineering
Date:14 December 2011
Thesis Supervisor(s):Kadem, Lyes and Hassan, Ibrahim
Keywords:Dysfunctional Bileaflet Mechanical Heart Valve Platelets Activation CFD Echocardiograpghy
ID Code:973573
Deposited By: OTHMAN SMADI
Deposited On:20 Jun 2012 19:42
Last Modified:18 Jan 2018 17:36
All items in Spectrum are protected by copyright, with all rights reserved. The use of items is governed by Spectrum's terms of access.

Repository Staff Only: item control page

Downloads per month over past year

Research related to the current document (at the CORE website)
- Research related to the current document (at the CORE website)
Back to top Back to top