Project Description:

Current prosthetic replacements for mitral valves require extensive suturing that costs valuable time during open heart surgery, especially in cases of Mitral Annular Calcification (MAC), where the tissue is stiff and difficult to suture. To reduce the risks associated with prolonged operative duration, we aim to design a sutureless mitral valve prosthesis that can be deployed quickly and conforms to the irregular, elliptical profile of a calcified mitral valve.

Our design incorporates the Shape Memory Alloy Nitinol and common biomaterials to create a self-expanding deployment mechanism. Additionally, we have created testing models that mimic the shape and texture of calcified mitral annuli.

Project Photo:

Our team in the lab!

Vara Qi Gunananthan

Tyler Lee

Veronica Ivanovskaya

Andrea Wat

Andrew Kim

Admy Palacios-Gonzalez

Karina George

Sophia Cheng

Alex Yau

Dr. Thomas Garrison

Dr. Michael Robich – Cardiovascular Services Western Division for Banner Health