Sarasvati Kalpa

 By: Sadwika Salain

Artificial Valves

1         Introduction

Anatomically, the human heart comprises of four chambers—two atria and two ventricles. (Detail of the heart components is shown on figure 1). Physiologically, the heart can be considered as a positive displacement pump that generates blood flow to support systemic and pulmonary circulation. For this purpose, the heart undergoes both contraction and expansion in alternating period. It is estimated that the heart contracts and expands as many as on average 100,000 times everyday, pumping approximately 2,000 gallons of blood (Bender, 1992).

To ensure the blood flows in a forward direction, two valves at each ventricle – one at the inlet – open and shut in a synchronized manner. The four heart valves are:

• Tricuspid valve : located between the right atrium and the right ventricle
• Pulmonary valve : located between the right ventricle and the pulmonary artery
• Mitral valve : between the left atrium and the left ventricle
• Aortic valve : between the left ventricle and the aorta

The blood come from the veins, which has less oxygen, enters the heart via the right atrium. After filling, the right atrium then contracts and pushes the blood to the right ventricle through the tricuspid valve. From this ventricle, blood is sent to the lung through the pulmonary valve. In the lung the blood is oxygenated. Furthermore, the oxygenated blood returns to the left atrium then goes to the left ventricle through the mitral valve. The final stage is, the blood is squeezed out from the left atrium into the aorta and other circulatory system through the aortic valve. Detail of how the heart valve is working will be described in the following section. (more…)

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Calcium Phosphate Coatings

Porous hydroxyapatite has been accepted that due to its unfavourable mechanical properties it cannot be used under load bearing purposes. For this reason hydroxyapatite has been used as thin film coatings on metallic alloys. Of the metallic alloys investigated titanium based alloys have shown to be the material of preference for thin film coatings. Titanium alloys possesses good mechanical strength and fatigue resistance under load bearing conditions. They are lightweight, with high strength to weight ratios. (more…)

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Chemical formula

Ca₁₀(PO₄)₆(OH)₂

Background

Hydroxyapatite is chemically similar to the mineral component of bones and hard tissues in mammals. It is one of few materials that are classed as bioactive, meaning that it will support bone ingrowth and osseointegration when used in orthopaedic, dental and maxillofacial applications.

The chemical nature of hydroxyapatite lends itself to substitution, meaning that it is not uncommon for non-stoichiometric hydroxyapatites to exist. The most common substitutions involve carbonate, fluoride and chloride substitutions for hydroxyl groups, while defects can also exist resulting in deficient hydroxyapatites (more…)

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Bone Tissue Engineering

The previous section talked about the pressing need for bone substitutes. Bone Tissue Engineering is an emerging interdisciplinary field that seeks to address the needs by applying the principles of biology and engineering to the development of viable substitutes that restore and maintain the function of human bone tissues. This form of therapy differs from standard drug therapy or permanent implants in that the engineered bone becomes integrated within the patient, affording a potentially permanent and specific cure of the disease state. (more…)

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Background

Trauma, degeneration and diseases often make surgical repair or replacement necessary. When a person has a joint pain the main concern is the relief of pain and return to a healthy and functional life style. This usually requires replacement of skeletal parts that include knees, hips, finger joints, elbows, vertebrae, teeth, and repair of the mandible. The worldwide biomaterials market is valued at close to $24,000M. Orthopaedic and dental applications represent approximately 55% of the total biomaterials market. Orthopaedics products worldwide exceeded $13 billion in 2000, an increase of 12 percent over 1999 revenues. Expansion in these areas is expected to continue due to number of factors, including the ageing population, an increasing preference by younger to middle aged candidates to undertake surgery, improvements in the technology and life style, a better understanding of body functionality, improved aesthetics and need for better function. (more…)

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