Interaction between the aortic valve leaflets and a Millar dual-micromanometer catheter during recording of the aortic component of the second heart sound in dogs

The influence of the closure of the aortic valve leaflets on a dual-micromanometer Millar catheter is investigated with respect to the power spectrum of the aortic component (A2) of the second heart sound in dogs. The catheter inserted through the aortic valve is used to simultaneously record A2 in the left ventricle and in the aorta and to study the transmission of A2 up to the body surface. Results indicate that the interaction of the valve leaflets with the Millar dual-micromanometer catheter during the closure and vibration of the aortic valve does not produce a clapping artefact. The main effect is a change in the natural modes of vibration (resonant frequencies) of the aortic valve resulting from a modification of the vibrating structure (combined structure composed of the catheter, the aortic valve and the surrounding blood and tissues) because of the tight mechanical coupling between the aortic valve leaflets and the catheter. In addition, this modification of the natural modes of resonance does not invalidate the estimation of the frequency response of the transfer function between the aortic root and the thoracic recording site, even if the mean gain of the transfer function is affected and the phase slightly increased with frequency. On the contrary, the interaction of the aortic valve leaflets with the catheter seems to slightly increase the spectral contribution (coherence) of the intra-aortic A2 to the thoracic A2.