Investigating the Hemodynamics of Aortic Stenosis with a Simple Aortic Valve Model*

Aortic stenosis, which is caused by the incomplete opening of the aortic valve, is one of the most common valvular diseases. This condition is also known to generate strong systolic murmurs, which contain valuable disease-related information. In the current study, a novel reduced degree-of-freedom leaflet model is employed to investigate post-valvular hemodynamics and leaflet dynamics. This model allows us to examine the hemodynamics of healthy as well as diseased valves in an efficient manner. This simple valve model is shown to accurately capture the opening/closing motion predicted by a more sophisticated model. Simulations with the aortic valve model provide additional insights into post-valvular flow and the characteristics of the murmur source.