Cracks in cryopreserved aortic allografts and rapid thawing.

Cryopreserved aortic allografts are shipped in a frozen state. Cracks in the graft, appearing after thawing, can pose serious problems in the planned operative procedures. Cracks were encountered in approximately 3% of all our shipped cryopreserved human material and were strongly associated with transportation in a "dry shipper.

Development of a new inflow valve for a 20cc semisoft ventricle: preliminary results.

We remodeled and tested our semisoft 20cc ventricle and made a new bileaflet flap inflow valve. Housings, bases, outflow valve, and a newly designed diaphragm were all made by vacuum forming and put together by radiofrequency welding or glue. In vitro, the ventricle produced a cardiac output of 2.