How Is a Heart Valve Made?

Heart valves act as small gateways that regulate blood flow within your heart. When a person has a defective heart valve, doctors can replace the valve with one made of animal tissue or a mechanical valve made of synthetic material.

Types of Mechanical Valves

• Mechanical heart valves usually fall into one of two categories. The first kind manufactured is a ball-and-cage mechanism, in which blood flow is controlled by a rubber ball that oscillates within a metal cage. The second, and now more common, type is a tilting disc that move on a hinge or wires.

Materials Used

• The outer ring of a mechanical heart valve is usually made of titanium. The rest of the valve parts are made of graphite, pyrolytic carbon and polyester. Because of the strength of the materials used, a mechanical heart valve is expected to last for the duration of a patient's life.

Manufacturing of Mechanical Heart Valves

• Most of the materials used in heart valve production come from third-party providers, with the exception of the polyester cuffs, which are sewn together at extremely high temperatures. The valves are assembled in a sterile environment. Before being used, the valves are tested, inspected and steam sterilized.