Acoustic assessment of the physical integrity of Björk-Shiley convexo-concave heart valves.

Background: Several lines of evidence indicate a two-stage failure mode for the Björk-Shiley convexo-concave (C/C) heart valve, in which one of the two outlet strut legs separates from the flange before the other, potentially providing an opportunity to identify and prophylactically replace failure-prone valves. Radiographic single leg separation (SLS) detection, although successful, is subjective and skill intensive, implying a need for both an objective preliminary screen and subsequent corroboration of the radiographic findings.

Methods And Results: We developed a time-windowed, power density analysis of C/C valve closing sounds to detect the vibrational resonance that characterizes the presence of an intact outlet strut in clinically functioning, 29-mm-flange size C/C valves.

Acoustic classification of the state of artificial heart valves.

Transthoracic acoustic signals from BSCC (Björk-Shiley convexo-concave) mechanical heart valves implanted in human patients were processed to determine if the valves had separated outflow struts. For normal valves with intact outflow struts it is demonstrated that a time-windowed spectral analysis reveals the resonant frequency of the vibrating strut. The strut, which is set into vibration when the valve closes during each cardiac cycle, has a resonant frequency that varies among valves but usually is between 7000 and 8000 Hz.