Mechanical Valves

They are made of a combination of metal alloys, pyrolite carbon and dacron.

Types of Mechanical Valves

Caged-ball Valve (Star-Edwards)

A metal cage with several struts mounted in a circular ring, hollow metal or plastic ball inside cage. Durability is high, but possibility of blood clots forming on or around the valve with the risk of embolism is high.

Tilting Disc Valve (Bjork-Shiley Medtronic Hall)

Mobile lens shaped disc attached to a circular sewing ring by two offset transverse struts. This has high durability and efficiency.

Bileaflet Valve

Two pivoting semi-circular discs that open centrally, mounted

(St. Jude)

Directly onto a sewing ring.