Modelling of blood flow through heart valves

A commercially available software has been used to simulate blood flow through a heart valve. Basic fluid dynamic aspects of the problem such as variations of the blood flow domain geometry, possible alterations of inlet velocity and changes of blood viscosity have been incorporated into the simulations. It is shown that using a computer modelling approach significant data regarding the described system can be obtained. Therefore this study provides an important insight about the development of a reliable, cost effective and convenient methodology for the study of the operations of heart valves as well as a basis for the development of a predictive design tool for artificial heart valves.