The component materials used in fabrication of the Chitra heart valve, their choice and screening are described. Further the haemodynamic performance of this valve, which is under development and an equal sized No. 27 Bjork-Shiley valve prosthesis was compared in a left-heart pulse duplicator under similar conditions of flow rates and pressures. They were tested in both the aortic and mitral positions of the duplicator. Regurgitant volumes and transvalvular pressure gradients were measured over flow rates ranging from 2 to 8 LPM. Flow patterns of the fluid flow across the valves were also photographed. The results indicate that the performance of the indigeneous valve is comparable, if not marginally better, to that of the well-established Bjork-Shiley valve. Transvalvular gradients and regurgitant volumes were marginally lower for the Chitra valve. This is attributed to the improved design of the valve disc shape.

The heart of a normal human being beats about 38 million cycles every year. An artificial heart valve, to perform at this rate in the adverse conditions inside the heart for 20 years or more, should be highly wear-resistant with excellent fatigue strength. Thus, the study of mechanical and physical properties of the materials intended for use in artificial valves becomes an inseparable part of the valve development process itself. The physical and mechanical requirements of the materials used in the Chitra heart valve have been evaluated by studying their water absorption, adhesive wear and abrasive properties. The mechanical durability of the device has been assessed by accelerated life cycle testing. The test systems developed for the above are described here. The results show UHMW-PE to be a highly wear-resistant material suitable for the occluder. The accelerated wear tests show that the valve with Haynes-25 alloy cage and UHMW-PE disc has durability in excess of 50 years.