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Ahern – Custom Conduit for Transcatheter Aortic Valve Testing

 

Custom Conduit for Transcatheter Aortic Valve Testing (2024)

Undergraduates: Paul Ahern, Anh D. Nguyen


Faculty Advisor: Boyce Griffith
Department: Mathematics

Cardiovascular disease remains the leading cause of mortality worldwide, with aortic valvular stenosis notably prevalent in aging populations. This project experimentally studies Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement (TAVR) devices, particularly focusing on their durability. We utilized the Medtronic CoreValve Evolut R in a series of experimental trials in the ViVitro Pulse Duplicator system to simulate physiological heart conditions at a 70-bpm heart rate and a stroke volume of 70 mL.

We designed and 3D-printed components for a testing conduit, which allowed us to mount the TAVR device and accurately measure aortic and ventricular pressures, as well as flow rates passing through. We also collected high-speed top-down video of the leaflets’ mechanics, which is synchronized with our pressure and flow rate data.

Our results showed that the setup could effectively replicate human cardiovascular conditions, with average maximal aortic blood pressures of 122.14 mmHg and minimal pressures of 74.12 mmHg, matching optimal physiological pressures. However, we observed slight deviations in flow rate at the onset of diastole, suggesting areas for further investigation and setup adjustment.

We will continue this project by building a computational fluid-structure interaction model using our collected data. The computational model will enable precise control of the valve’s leaflet biomechanics and flow conditions to isolate the effects of valve geometry on leaflet dynamics. The combined experimental and computational results will provide further insights into the assessment of TAVR devices.