Electromechanical Sensors for Measurement of Mitral Valve Coaptation Pressure

Mitral valve repair is a difficult cardiac surgery that could benefit precise intraoperative measurement of the coaptation pressure to validate its success. In this paper we demonstrate and compare the potential of two electromechanical sensors tested in an ex vivo test bench replicating the mitral valve functioning. Homemade piezoelectric sensor in the form of a conformable sheet enables more reliable signal interpretation while modified commercial piezoresistive sensor in a form of a wire would allow faster transition towards clinical applications. Overall, both sensors measure a similar coaptation pressure around 60 kPa (450 mmHg) for a 165 mmHg transmitral pressure, in the same range as the only value published in the literature.