Styrene-based block copolymers are promising materials for the development of a polymeric heart valve prosthesis (PHV), and the mechanical properties of these polymers can be tuned via the manufacturing process, orienting the cylindrical domains to achieve material anisotropy. The aim of this work is the development of a computational tool for the optimization of the material microstructure in a new PHV intended for aortic valve replacement to enhance the mechanical performance of the device. An iterative procedure was implemented to orient the cylinders along the maximum principal stress direction of the leaflet. A numerical model of the leaflet was developed, and the polymer mechanical behavior was described by a hyperelastic anisotropic constitutive law. A custom routine was implemented to align the cylinders with the maximum principal stress direction in the leaflet for each iteration. The study was focused on valve closure, since during this phase the fibrous structure of the leaflets must bear the greatest load. The optimal microstructure obtained by our procedure is characterized by mainly circumferential orientation of the cylinders within the valve leaflet. An increase in the radial strain and a decrease in the circumferential strain due to the microstructure optimization were observed. Also, a decrease in the maximum value of the strain energy density was found in the case of optimized orientation; since the strain energy density is a widely used criterion to predict elastomer's lifetime, this result suggests a possible increase of the device durability if the polymer microstructure is optimized. The present method represents a valuable tool for the design of a new anisotropic PHV, allowing the investigation of different designs, materials, and loading conditions.
Skip Nav Destination
Article navigation
June 2016
Research-Article
A Computational Tool for the Microstructure Optimization of a Polymeric Heart Valve Prosthesis
M. Serrani,
M. Serrani
Department of Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology,
University of Cambridge,
Pembroke Street,
Cambridge CB23RA, UK
e-mail: ms2214@cam.ac.uk
University of Cambridge,
Pembroke Street,
Cambridge CB23RA, UK
e-mail: ms2214@cam.ac.uk
Search for other works by this author on:
J. Brubert,
J. Brubert
Department of Chemical Engineering and
Biotechnology,
University of Cambridge,
Pembroke Street,
Cambridge CB23RA, UK
Biotechnology,
University of Cambridge,
Pembroke Street,
Cambridge CB23RA, UK
Search for other works by this author on:
J. Stasiak,
J. Stasiak
Department of Chemical Engineering and
Biotechnology,
University of Cambridge,
Pembroke Street,
Cambridge CB23RA, UK
Biotechnology,
University of Cambridge,
Pembroke Street,
Cambridge CB23RA, UK
Search for other works by this author on:
F. De Gaetano,
F. De Gaetano
Department of Chemistry Materials and
Chemical Engineering “Giulio Natta,”
Politecnico di Milano,
Piazza Leonardo da Vinci 32,
Milan 20133, Italy
Chemical Engineering “Giulio Natta,”
Politecnico di Milano,
Piazza Leonardo da Vinci 32,
Milan 20133, Italy
Search for other works by this author on:
A. Zaffora,
A. Zaffora
Department of Chemistry Materials and
Chemical Engineering “Giulio Natta,”
Politecnico di Milano,
Piazza Leonardo da Vinci 32,
Milan 20133, Italy
Chemical Engineering “Giulio Natta,”
Politecnico di Milano,
Piazza Leonardo da Vinci 32,
Milan 20133, Italy
Search for other works by this author on:
M. L. Costantino,
M. L. Costantino
Department of Chemistry Materials and
Chemical Engineering “Giulio Natta,”
Politecnico di Milano,
Piazza Leonardo da Vinci 32,
Milan 20133, Italy
Chemical Engineering “Giulio Natta,”
Politecnico di Milano,
Piazza Leonardo da Vinci 32,
Milan 20133, Italy
Search for other works by this author on:
G. D. Moggridge
G. D. Moggridge
Department of Chemical Engineering and
Biotechnology,
University of Cambridge,
Pembroke Street,
Cambridge CB23RA, UK
Biotechnology,
University of Cambridge,
Pembroke Street,
Cambridge CB23RA, UK
Search for other works by this author on:
M. Serrani
Department of Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology,
University of Cambridge,
Pembroke Street,
Cambridge CB23RA, UK
e-mail: ms2214@cam.ac.uk
University of Cambridge,
Pembroke Street,
Cambridge CB23RA, UK
e-mail: ms2214@cam.ac.uk
J. Brubert
Department of Chemical Engineering and
Biotechnology,
University of Cambridge,
Pembroke Street,
Cambridge CB23RA, UK
Biotechnology,
University of Cambridge,
Pembroke Street,
Cambridge CB23RA, UK
J. Stasiak
Department of Chemical Engineering and
Biotechnology,
University of Cambridge,
Pembroke Street,
Cambridge CB23RA, UK
Biotechnology,
University of Cambridge,
Pembroke Street,
Cambridge CB23RA, UK
F. De Gaetano
Department of Chemistry Materials and
Chemical Engineering “Giulio Natta,”
Politecnico di Milano,
Piazza Leonardo da Vinci 32,
Milan 20133, Italy
Chemical Engineering “Giulio Natta,”
Politecnico di Milano,
Piazza Leonardo da Vinci 32,
Milan 20133, Italy
A. Zaffora
Department of Chemistry Materials and
Chemical Engineering “Giulio Natta,”
Politecnico di Milano,
Piazza Leonardo da Vinci 32,
Milan 20133, Italy
Chemical Engineering “Giulio Natta,”
Politecnico di Milano,
Piazza Leonardo da Vinci 32,
Milan 20133, Italy
M. L. Costantino
Department of Chemistry Materials and
Chemical Engineering “Giulio Natta,”
Politecnico di Milano,
Piazza Leonardo da Vinci 32,
Milan 20133, Italy
Chemical Engineering “Giulio Natta,”
Politecnico di Milano,
Piazza Leonardo da Vinci 32,
Milan 20133, Italy
G. D. Moggridge
Department of Chemical Engineering and
Biotechnology,
University of Cambridge,
Pembroke Street,
Cambridge CB23RA, UK
Biotechnology,
University of Cambridge,
Pembroke Street,
Cambridge CB23RA, UK
1Corresponding author.
Manuscript received October 21, 2015; final manuscript received March 22, 2016; published online April 11, 2016. Assoc. Editor: Kristen Billiar.
J Biomech Eng. Jun 2016, 138(6): 061001 (8 pages)
Published Online: April 11, 2016
Article history
Received:
October 21, 2015
Revised:
March 22, 2016
Citation
Serrani, M., Brubert, J., Stasiak, J., De Gaetano, F., Zaffora, A., Costantino, M. L., and Moggridge, G. D. (April 11, 2016). "A Computational Tool for the Microstructure Optimization of a Polymeric Heart Valve Prosthesis." ASME. J Biomech Eng. June 2016; 138(6): 061001. https://doi.org/10.1115/1.4033178
Download citation file:
Get Email Alerts
Related Articles
Society Awards 2016
J Biomech Eng (February,2017)
ANNUAL SPECIAL ISSUE “Biomechanical Engineering: Year in Review”
J Biomech Eng (February,2017)
Thank You To All 2016 JBME Reviewers!
J Biomech Eng (February,2017)
Special Section: Annual Education Issue: Let the Wild Rumpus of Education Start!
J Biomech Eng (July,2016)
Related Proceedings Papers
Related Chapters
In Situ Observations of the Failure Mechanisms of Hydrided Zircaloy-4
Zirconium in the Nuclear Industry: 20th International Symposium
Vibration Analysis of the Seated Human Body in Vertical Direction
International Conference on Computer Technology and Development, 3rd (ICCTD 2011)
Control and Operational Performance
Closed-Cycle Gas Turbines: Operating Experience and Future Potential