An electromagnetic acoustic transduction technique for detecting strut fractures in artificial heart valves

This paper discusses a completely noninvasive technique to detect single leg separation in Bjork-Shiley convexo-concave (BSCC) heart valves. Prior studies have shown that the resonant frequencies of the valve depend on the condition of the strut. The technique described here uses electromagnetic methods to mechanically excite the valve across a range of frequencies of interest and determine the resonant frequency of the valve. Results obtained with a prototype setup are presented which demonstrate the usefulness of the technique in a clinical setting for detecting single leg separated (SLS) condition in patients with BSCC heart valves.