Frequency and diameter dependent viscoelastic properties of mitral valve chordae tendineae

Ashleigh G Wilcox, Keith G. Buchan, Daniel Espino

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

28 Citations (Scopus)
355 Downloads (Pure)

Abstract

This study aimed to characterise viscoelastic properties of different categories of chordae tendineae over a range of frequencies. Dynamic Mechanical Analysis (DMA) was performed using a materials testing machine. Chordae (n=51) were dissected from seven porcine hearts and categorised as basal, marginal, strut or commissural. Chordae were loaded under a sinusoidally varying tensile load at a range of frequencies between 0.5 and 5 Hz, both at a standardised load (i.e. same mean load of 4 N for all chordae) and under chordal specific loading (i.e. based on in vivo loads for different chordae). Storage modulus and stiffness were frequency-dependent. Loss modulus and stiffness were frequency-independent. Storage and loss moduli, but not stiffness, decreased with chordal diameter. Therefore, strut chordae have the lowest moduli and marginal chordae the highest moduli. The hierarchy of dynamic storage and loss moduli is: marginal, commissural, basal and strut. In conclusion, viscoelastic properties of chordae are dependent on both frequency and chordal type. Future/novel replacement chordal materials should account for frequency and diameter dependent viscoelastic properties of chordae tendineae.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)186-195
Number of pages10
JournalJournal of the Mechanical Behavior of Biomedical Materials
Volume30
Early online date25 Nov 2013
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 1 Feb 2014

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