Investigating the Suitability of Carbon Nanotube Reinforced Polymer in Transcatheter Valve Applications.

ABSTRACT: The current delivery size of transcatheter aortic valves, limited by the thickness of their pericardial leaflets, correlates with a high prevalence of major vascular complications. Polyurethane valves can be developed to a fraction of the thickness of pericardial valves through the addition of carbon nanotubes to reinforce their leaflets. This study investigates the suitability of a novel carbon nanotube reinforced leaflet to reduce the delivery profile of transcatheter aortic valves. Carbon nanotube polyurethane composites were developed with thicknesses of 50 μm and their mechanical properties were determined in relation to various environmental effects. The composites demonstrated improvements to the material stiffness, particularly at increasing strain rates compared to the neat polyme

SUBMITTER: Rozeik MM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5573758 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature