Simulated Transcatheter Aortic Valve Flow: Implications of Elliptical Deployment and Under‐Expansion at the Aortic Annulus

Clinical use of transcatheter aortic valves (TAVs) has been associated with abnormal deployment, including oval deployment and under‐expansion when placed into calcified aortic annuli. In this study, we performed an integrated computational and experimental investigation to quantify the impact of abnormal deployment at the aortic annulus on TAV hemodynamics. A size 23 mm generic TAV computational model, developed and published previously, was subjected to elliptical deployment at the annulus with eccentricity levels up to 0.68 and to under‐expansion of the TAV at the annulus by up to 25%. The hemodynamic performance was quantified for each TAV deployment configuration. TAV opening geometries were fabricated using stereolithography and then subjected to steady forward flow testing in accordance with ISO‐5840. Centerline pressure profiles were compared to validate the computational model. Our findings show that slight ellipticity of the TAV may not lead to degeneration of hydrodynamic performance. However, under large ellipticity, increases in transvalvular pressure gradients were observed. Under‐expanded deployment has a much greater negative effect on the TAV hemodynamics compared with elliptical deployment. The maximum turbulent viscous shear stress (TVSS) values were found to be significantly larger in under‐expanded TAVs. Although the maximum value of TVSS was not large enough to cause hemolysis in all cases, it may cause platelets activation, especially for under‐expanded deployments.