The heart is the human body's most vital organ, consisting of four chambers, being the left and right ventricles and atria. The heart's main function is to pump oxygen rich blood around the body. The purpose of heart valves is to allow the heart to pump blood to specific locations within the body effectively and efficiently. The valves are, however, susceptible to various malfunctions, in reaction to specific illnesses or the effects of ageing. Over the past decade, there have been some monumental advances in heart valve surgery, in respect to both repair and replacement of damaged heart valves.
A surgical procedure to repair a faulty heart-valve requires no use of artificial or biological parts. However, if the valve is unable to be repaired, the most likely situation is that of heart valve replacement surgery, whereby the original valve is completely removed from the heart and an artificial valve is inserted in its place. The two main types of prosthetic heart valves available are termed mechanical and bioprosthetic. Mechanical valves are made completely of mechanical materials which are tolerated and accepted by the body.
Although the mechanical type was once widespread, the medical fraternity is now firmly focussed on the biological alternative, sourced from bovine pericardium, which is the sac that surrounds the heart of a cow. This is because the rate of acceptance by the body of artificial insertions is greater when using a biological product, no medication is required to induce blood thinning after the surgery, there are fewer risks involved when female patient becomes pregnant, and oversized valves may be inserted to accommodate growth rates of the patient.
The bovine pericardium heart-valve is preserved and strengthened through a process of cross-linking and mounted on a flexible frame which is surrounded by a ring of silicone. This rubber ring on the exterior of the heart valve provides the platform from which the surgeon sews the valve to the patient. The use of bovine pericardium in this procedure has enhanced the strength and durability of the heart valve.
Much research is being conducted into the future of heart-valves and surgery in regard to the best suited material and design for the purpose. Researchers and technicians alike believe that the future of heart valve replacements lies in the biological and chemical engineering of natural materials such as bovine pericardium.
About this Author
Southern Lights Biomaterials is a New Zealand-based biomaterials company supplying medical device manufacturers worldwide with animal tissue products, sourced from Category 1 countries - New Zealand and Australia.
SLB is a team of New Zealand and US scientists and businessmen with two core business areas -
1. Sourcing and delivering pharmaceutical-grade BSE/TSE-free bovine tissue. Current products include hide, tendon, bone material and pericardium.
2. Contract Manufacturing and CoDevelopment of bovine collagen-based tissue-engineered biomaterials
- Type 1 insoluable Collagen to ASTM F2212-02 Standards
- Bovine Pericardium Products
SLB provides customers with tissue materials or formulations to customer requirements and international medical device regulator standards.
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