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Researchers at the University of British Columbia at Okanagan have created the world's first nanocomposite biomaterial heart valve that can be inserted without having to open a chest.
Using a new technique, researchers have been able to build a more durable valve that allows the heart to adapt more quickly and easily.
Assistant Professor Hadi Mohammadi heads the Heart Valve Performance Lab through the School of Engineering at UBC Okanagan. The lead author of the study explains that the newly developed valve is an example of a transcatheter heart valve, a promising new branch of cardiology.
These valves are unique because they can be inserted into a patient through small incisions rather than opening the chest of it – a generally safer and less invasive procedure, according to a UBCO press release.
"Existing transcatheter heart valves are made from animal tissue, most often from the pericardial membrane of a cow's heart, and have had only moderate success so far," he says. "The problem is that they face significant implantation risks and that they can result in coronary obstruction and acute kidney damage."
The new valve solves this problem by using naturally occurring nanocomposites – a material badembled with a variety of very small components – including gels, vinyl and cellulose. The combination of their new material with the noninvasive nature of transcatheter heart valves makes this new design very promising for use with high-risk patients, according to Mohammadi.
"Not only is the material important, but the design and construction of our valve means it reduces valve stress by 40% over currently available valves," says Dylan Goode, a graduate HVPL researcher. "It is only manufactured in a continuous form, so it gains in strength and flexibility to withstand the circulatory complications that may occur after a transplant."
In collaboration with researchers from Kelowna General Hospital and Western University, the valve will now be rigorously tested to improve its composition and design. The tests will include human heart simulators and in vivo studies on large animals. If successful, the valve will then pbad to the patient's clinical tests, the statement said.
"This could become the new standard for heart valve replacement and provide a safer, longer-term solution for many patients."
The new design was highlighted in an article published this month in the Journal of Engineering in Medicine with financial support from the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada.
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