Magnetic monitoring of cardiac valve prosthesis

• Grant number: 10/08428-1
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: October 01, 2010
• End date: September 30, 2011
• Field of knowledge: Engineering - Biomedical Engineering - Medical Engineering
• Principal Investigator: Marcelo Mulato
• Grantee: Amanda Lopes de Oliveira
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Filosofia, Ciências e Letras de Ribeirão Preto (FFCLRP). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Ribeirão Preto , SP, Brazil

Abstract

The project objectives are to develop an experimental model for monitoring the behavior of cardiac valves prostheses. We intend to evaluate the system when functioning according to a normal cardiac cycle (open and closure) and an intentionally altered one. We are going to use ferromagnetic materials attached to the valve, in a way that itself doesn't alter the regular cycle. We will study several monitoring conditions, altering the ferromagnetic material's shape and the cycle's frequency. To be able to do that, we'll use a fluxgate sensor, recently developed in our laboratory, for un-invasive measurements. We intend to test an observation technique for a simulated cardiac valve so that possible failures in its work can be previously detected, according to the signal recorded by the fluxgate sensor. The distance between sensor and valve will also be studied. (AU)