Heart diseases, particularly heart valve disorders, often require surgical treatment, as pharmacological approaches are insufficient. In cases of irreversible damage, surgical procedures are performed using artificial heart valves, the development of which dates back to the 1950s. Initially simple ball and cage designs have, over the decades, evolved into complex multi leaflet mechanical valves that increasingly mimic the natural flow dynamics of the heart. Current research is increasingly focused on the development of 3D printed heart valves, which enable greater customization for individual patients and more accurate replication of the anatomical and functional characteristics of natural valves. Since artificial valves are classified as cardiac implants, they must comply with the requirements of the ISO 5840 standard; therefore, experimental testing is required prior to their clinical use to confirm compliance with the standard. Within the scope of this master’s thesis, we designed and constructed an experimental measurement setup that enables testing of 3D printed artificial heart valves under conditions that simulate the operation of the human heart. Using this setup, we tested six different self-fabricated heart valve models, which do not meet the requirements for clinical use but serve as developmental models for research and further testing on the measurement setup intended for studying the operation of an LVAD pump and flow dynamics within the heart.
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