A Device for Wear Resistance Tests of Artificial Heart Valves

Abstract

According to the International Standard ISO 5840: 1990 the wear resistance test is a necessary step in the development and production of artificial heart valves (AHV). In developing the device, it is important that a reliable prediction is made of AHV longevity, as a number of specific problems appear that are connected with the results of tests, duration of testing, efficiency and reliability of the testing device. In this paper a procedure is outlined of service life testing of mechanical AHV and a description of the device is given. A comparative example of loads acting on AHV, operating in the accelerated wear testing device and in the pulse duplicator of the physiological mode is also described.