Kingston General Hospital Operating Room Collection
Category
Diagnostic & Treatment Artifacts
Classification
Cardiology
Accession Number
997034492
Description
An unused Smeloff-Cutter prosthetic aortic cloth covered valve with a silicone rubber ball inside a titanium cage; size A3, with a plastic identification label attached by thread.
An unused Smeloff-Cutter prosthetic aortic cloth covered valve with a silicone rubber ball inside a titanium cage; size A3, with a plastic identification label attached by thread.
Claire Kelly; Mary White retired KGH OR nurses; Internet: Prosthetic Heart Valves
Research Facts
Used for replacing dysfunctional aortic valves in patients. The first artificial heart valve, an acrylic ball valve, was used in 1952. Several forms of the ball valve were created and used in valvular replacement, but were phased out starting in 1965 when the first disk valve was created by Kay & Donald Shiley. One of the final versions of the ball valve was the Smeloff-Cutter valve, which was constructed of a commercially pure titanium cage in a bare, uncoated nature. This cage had a non overlapping, full-orifice with a ball constructed of silicone rubber. The design of this valve permitted slight regurgitation of blood that would in effect, wash the ball and cage, preventing thrombosis. The Smelter-Cutter valve enjoyed over a decade of success in valvular replacement with an established record of durability. Research information in donor file.