一項研究顯示，使用新型機械心臟瓣膜導致的溶血和血栓形成的幾率。

使用新型計算機化液體動力學模型，來自Ghent大學的科學家研究報道在兩個幾何模型中，三維血流通過新型Open Piovt心臟瓣膜的情況，這種新技術能夠幫助更好地了解機械心臟瓣膜的血液動力學功能。這項研究證實：先前發(fā)表的資料，那些資料顯示與ATS醫(yī)療公司的Open Pivot瓣膜相關的血液動力學和小葉運動依賴放置瓣膜位置的解剖形狀。這項研究資料發(fā)表在2005年5月《心臟瓣膜疾病期刊》。

在一個模擬天然人體解剖的擴大幾何模型中，這項研究的作者發(fā)現(xiàn)分叉血流與ATS Open Pivot心臟瓣膜的相互作用，降低了小葉的跨血管壓力梯度和剪切壓力，以及潛在的對血小板和血細胞的損傷。這些結果提示：已經報道的Open Pivot瓣膜常見的溶血和血栓形成事件，或許與血流流經Open Pivot瓣膜直接相關。

與其他機械心臟瓣膜不同，ATS Open-Pivot心臟瓣膜面積不包含空腔或者凹陷處，那通常會遲滯血流。相反Open-Pivot鉸鏈稍稍突出血流之中，提供持續(xù)被動沖洗，這被認為能夠輕輕攪動脆弱的血細胞。

ATS醫(yī)療公司制造銷售側重于心臟外科產品與服務， 在超過60多個國家中銷售他們公司的產品。
 
Novel Mechanical Heart Valve
 
A study has shown that use of a novel mechanical heart valve results in low rates of hemolysis and thromboembolic events.

Using a new computational fluid dynamics model, scientists from the University of Ghent (Belgium) researched and reported on three-dimensional (3D) flow through this new open pivot heart valve in two geometric models, a new technique that improves the understanding of the hemodynamic function of mechanical heart valves. The study confirmed previously published data showing that valve hemodynamics and leaflet motions associated with the Open Pivot heart valve of ATS Medical, Inc. (Minneapolis, MN, USA) are dependent on the shape of the anatomy in which the valve is placed. The study was published in the May 2005 issue of The Journal of Heart Valve Disease.

In an expanding geometry model that simulates native human anatomy, the study’s authors found that diverging blood flow interacts with the opening mechanism of the ATS Open Pivot heart valve to reduce transvascular pressure gradients, shear stress on the leaflets, and the potential for damage to platelets and blood cells. These results suggest that the low rates of hemolysis and thromboembolic events commonly reported for the Open Pivot valve may be directly related to the flow patterns through the open pivot design.

Unlike all other mechanical heart valves, the pivot areas of the ATS Open-Pivot heart valve do not contain cavities or recesses that could allow for areas of stagnant flow. Instead, the open pivot hinge protrudes gently into the blood flow, providing continuous passive washing which is thought to be gentler on fragile blood cells.

ATS Medical manufactures and markets products and services focused on cardiac surgery and sells its products in more than 60 countries.