BIOPROSTHETIC HEART VALVE MATERIALS AND CHARACTERIZATION

摘要

A wide variety of biomaterials are used in prosthetic heart valve manufacture. The inherent properties of these materials determine the performance of the final device. Xenograft tissue materials such as pericardium and valve cusp tissue need to be selected for specific properties, treated to reduce antigenicity and degeneration, and then characterized to ensure appropriate properties after treatment. Polymeric and metallic materials also need to be characterized to ensure optimal performance in the appropriate configuration.