PIV measurements of flows in artificial heart valves.

Through several decades many different models of prosthetic artificial heart valves (PHV) have been designed and optimized in order to enhance hemodynamic properties. These properties are not only material dependent but the major influence results from the mechanical assembly of the particular PHV. For the experimental assessment of the flow through such PHVs particle image velocimetry (PIV) is already an accepted method [1] due to its noninvasive optical approach and accuracy. Here, we present various modifications of PIV in order to explain, compare and realize which method is the most suitable for the quantification of such flows. The choice of the experimental procedure for testing the PHVs is strongly dependent on the optical access of the designed in-vitro testing loops simulating the human heart and vascular system. The hardware demand and its configuration for, e.g., stereoscopic PIV is much more complex than standard 2D PIV, therefore the conditions and design of the testing loop have to be realized to allow the desired flow measurement. The flow in heart valves as an unsteady periodically generated flow, can be obtained by averaged phaselocked or measurements with high temporal. The properties, advantages and drawbacks of specific PIV techniques to visualize the flow behind a PHV will be discussed