ARCHITECTURE DESIGN OF A NOVEL SEPARABLE MOLD TO OBTAIN AUTOLOGOUS TISSUE HEART VALVES "BIOVALVES" NON-INVASIVELY

• Published in: International journal of artificial organs 2011-08, Vol.34 (8), p.670-670
• Main Authors: Nakayama, Y, Matsui, Y, Yamanami, M, Takewa, Y, Tatsumi, E, Taenaka, Y, Oie, T, Tajikawa, T, Ohba, K, Kanda, K, Yaku, H
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• ISSN: 0391-3988

Objectives: We have developed the autologous tissue heart valved conduit "Biovalves" grown in the recipients' subcutaneous spaces, which were autonomically formed precisely according to the shape of the material molds by encapsulation with connective tissues. In this study, a novel separable mold was developed for non-invasive removing the molds, which were completely impregnated into the formed Biovalve tissues with complex 3-dimentional shape. Methods and Results: The mold consisted of six main plastic parts. Two were tubular rods (14 or 16mm in diameter), which bound three small hemisphere-shaped parts resembling the 3 protrusions of the sinus of Valsalva. The assembly was fixed with pole by insertion into the hole of the combined two tubes to prepare the molds. The molds were placed into the dorsal subcutaneous pouches of beagle dogs for 4 weeks or goats for 8 weeks. The harvested implants were completely encapsulated with connective membranous tissues. After cutting both ends of the implants the impregnated molds were smoothly removed from each end by separating the molds into the parts without any damage to the tissues, resulting in the acquisition of the flawless Biovalves. The Biovalve conduit had 3 protrusions resembling the sinus of Valsalva. A membranous tissue with the shape of a closed trileaflet valve was formed as intended by its design. In vitro functional evaluation and in vivo implantation study is ongoing. Conclusions: A novel separable mold for non-invasive preparation of Biovalve was developed, which is one of the major steps toward its clinical application.