A Note on the Leakage of the New Omniscience/tm Pivoting Disk Prosthetic Heart Valve

Measurements of the steady-state leakage of the new Medical Incorporated Omniscience/tm cardiac valve prosthesis are presented. These results are compared to those obtained from the SJM bi-leaflet cardiac valve/tm. The new Omniscience/tm valve shows significantly less leakage than the bi-leaflet valve. Consideration is given to problems in similitude as well as to the general nature of the flow field.