Particle image velocimetry in the investigation of flow past artificial heart valves.

Full-field measurement of instantaneous velocities in the flow field of artificial heart valves is vital as the flow is unsteady and turbulent. Particle image velocimetry (PIV) provides us the ability to do this as compared to other point measurement devices where the velocity is measured at a single point in space over time. In the development of a PIV system to investigate the flow field of artificial heart valves, many problems associated with the project arose and were subsequently resolved. Experience gained in the setting up of an environment conducive for PIV studies of artificial heart valves; from seed particle selection to refractive index matching, and the evolution of computer algorithms to satisfy the varied flow conditions in artificial heart valves are presented here. Velocity profiles and distributions are computed and drawn for a porcine tissue heart valve based on measurements with the PIV system developed.