Innovative Mechanical Heart Valve Enhances Blood Flow Efficiency

The Heart Valve Performance Laboratory at the University of British Columbia Okanagan (UBCO) has developed a groundbreaking mechanical heart valve (MHV) that shows promise in improving blood flow for patients with heart disease. This advancement could potentially replace existing mechanical valves currently available in the market.

Lead by Dr. Hadi Mohammadi, the research team has conducted extensive testing on this newly designed MHV, which may redefine the standards for heart valve replacements. Their findings, published in the Journal of Biomechanics, suggest that this innovation could outperform traditional tissue valves under specific circumstances.

Calcific valvular heart disease, a condition where heart valves become calcified and fail to function properly, is anticipated to affect approximately 4.5 million individuals by 2030. This makes it the most common valvular heart issue among aging populations.

Current treatment options for aortic valve replacement include both mechanical and tissue valves. While tissue valves offer superior performance and blood flow, they typically last only 10 to 15 years, necessitating additional surgeries. Conversely, mechanical valves can endure a lifetime but often require patients to take blood thinners due to their less efficient blood flow.

Dr. Mohammadi emphasizes that the quest for an ideal prosthetic valve continues to be a significant hurdle in the medical field. The objective is to create a valve that combines optimal durability with excellent hemodynamics, meeting the global demand for effective heart valve solutions.

The UBCO research team conducted comparative tests on their MHV, dubbed the iValve, alongside another emerging valve known as Triflo MHV. The study involved rigorous evaluations of these valves against three industry-standard models using a pulse duplicator system that simulates actual heart conditions.

Results revealed that both the iValve and Triflo MHV achieved similar pressure ratios while exhibiting significantly reduced mean and peak reverse blood flow values compared to traditional mechanical valves. This indicates that blood can flow more smoothly through these new designs, which may reduce the likelihood of complications and the need for blood thinners.

Distinctively, the iValve features a single open central orifice, allowing for uninterrupted blood flow, akin to natural tissue valves. In contrast, other mechanical valves, including the Triflo MHV, distribute blood into smaller streams, which could heighten the risk of flow-related issues.

Overall, both the iValve and Triflo MHV demonstrate enhanced performance metrics over existing MHVs, suggesting a promising future for mechanical heart valve technology. The iValve is now progressing towards animal and clinical trials, edging closer to becoming a viable option for patients.

For further reading, please refer to the publication: Dylan Goode et al., Rise of the new generation of mechanical heart valve prostheses: An in-depth in vitro study, Journal of Biomechanics (2025). DOI: 10.1016/j.jbiomech.2025.112647.