A team at the University of British Columbia (UBC) Okanagan has engineered a novel mechanical heart valve, named iValve, that aims to replicate the performance of tissue valves while maintaining the long-lasting durability of mechanical valves. This innovation addresses a critical need in heart valve replacement technology, particularly for pediatric patients.
The iValve is designed to overcome the limitations of current heart valve options. Tissue valves, while offering superior shape and blood flow dynamics, typically last only 15 to 20 years, necessitating repeat surgeries. Mechanical valves, conversely, can last a lifetime but often require patients to take daily anticoagulants due to their impact on blood flow.
iValve Design and Performance
Dr. Hadi Mohammadi, Associate Professor at UBC Okanagan's School of Engineering, explains that the iValve combines the strengths of both valve types. "We have produced a new mechanical heart valve that combines the best of both worlds—offering the performance of tissue valves with the long-lasting durability of mechanical valves," he stated. The iValve is the first valve of its kind designed and built in Canada.
A key feature of the iValve is its suitability for high-heart-rate applications, making it particularly promising for pediatric patients. Traditional mechanical valves have posed challenges in smaller hearts due to their design and impact on blood flow. "What is particularly exciting about the iValve is that it was specifically designed for high-heart-rate applications, such as in paediatric patients," Dr. Mohammadi noted.
Preclinical Testing and Future Trials
The iValve has undergone rigorous mechanical lab testing, with results published in the Journal of Biomechanics. Researchers are now preparing for animal and clinical trials, with the hope of initiating these trials within the next two years. The development of the iValve was an international collaboration with ViVitro Labs and independent consultants Lawrence Scotten and Rolland Siegel, with funding from Angeleno Medical.
Dr. Dylan Goode, Heart Valve Performance Lab Manager, highlighted the potential benefits of the iValve in improving patients' lifestyles. "We have shown that the iValve can provide the structural benefits of a mechanical heart valve and last a patient’s lifespan while providing improved hemodynamic performance, meaning an improvement of the way in which blood flows through vessels." This improved hemodynamic performance could reduce or eliminate the need for anticoagulant therapy, which carries risks of severe bleeding, blood clots, and tissue damage.
Expansion to Mitral Valve Technology
The research team is also focusing on applying the technology and techniques used to develop the iValve to create new valves for other heart valve applications. Dr. Mohammadi stated, "Next, we will take what we have learned and develop one for the mitral valve. That valve is responsible for making sure that blood flows from your left atrium to your left ventricle. It also ensures that blood doesn’t flow backward between those two chambers."
