Characteristics of Compressive Strains in Porcine Aortic Valves Cusps
Margaret M. Adamczyk PhD, Ivan Vesely PhD

Regional strains were measured in whole porcine aortic valves to investigate the presence of compressive (i.e. negative) cusp strains. Negative radial strains were observed only at the base of the non-coronary (NC) cusp. Trimming of muscle and other tissue adjacent to the NC cusp increased negative radial strains and positive circumferential strains in the NC cusp, as well as root strains adjacent to the NC cusp. The right and left coronary cusps did not exhibit negative strains. In many cases (66%), negative strains in the NC cusp were accompanied by folding and wrinkling of tissue at the base of the NC cusp. These findings indicate that the NC cusp is different in its internal organization than the other two cusps.