An isolated beating pig heart platform for a comprehensive evaluation of intracardiac blood flow with 4D flow MRI: a feasibility study.

Background: Cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in large animals is cumbersome for various reasons, including ethical considerations, costs of housing and maintenance, and need for anaesthesia. Our primary purpose was to show the feasibility of an isolated beating pig heart model for four-dimensional (4D) flow MRI for investigating intracardiac blood flow patterns and flow parameters using slaughterhouse side products. In addition, the feasibility of evaluating transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) in the model was investigated.

The dynamic cardiac biosimulator: A method for training physicians in beating-heart mitral valve repair procedures.

Objective: Previously, cardiac surgeons and cardiologists learned to operate new clinical devices for the first time in the operating room or catheterization laboratory. We describe a biosimulator that recapitulates normal heart valve physiology with associated real-time hemodynamic performance.

Methods: To highlight the advantages of this simulation platform, transventricular extruded polytetrafluoroethylene artificial chordae were attached to repair flail or prolapsing mitral valve leaflets.

In vitro assessment of mitral valve function in cyclically pressurized porcine hearts.

Recent approaches to the in vitro experimental study of cardiac fluid mechanics involve the use of whole biological structures to investigate in the lab novel therapeutic approaches for the treatment of heart pathologies. To enhance reliability and repeatability, the influence of the actuation strategy of the experimental apparatuses on the biomechanics of biological structures needs to be assessed. Using echography and intracardiac high-speed imaging, we compared the mitral valve (MV) anatomo-functional features (coaptation areas/lengths, papillary muscles-valvular plane distances) in two passive-beating-heart mock loops with internal (IPML) or external (EPML) pressurization of the ventricular chamber.

Aortic interleaflet triangles reshaping: hydrodynamic, kinematic and morphological effects in in-vitro analysis.

Background And Aim Of The Study: Subcommissural triangles reshaping is a reparative technique used to remodel the ventriculo-aortic junction. The study aim was to evaluate, by means of in-vitro testing, the effects of this technique on hemodynamics, leaflet kinematics and aortic root functional unit morphology.

Methods: Twenty-one porcine aortic roots were tested in a pulsatile mock loop under basal conditions and after subcommissural triangles reshaping performed at 50% of the interleaflet triangles height.

In vitro study of a standardized approach to aortic cusp extension.

Purpose: Cusp extension technique (CET) is a reparative surgical procedure for restoring aortic valve function by suturing patches to the compromised native leaflets. Its outcomes are strongly dependent on the ability of the surgeon. We proposed and tested a novel approach on an in vitro model, aimed at standardizing and simplifying the surgical procedure.