Noninvasive detection of artificial heart valve outlet strut fracture using sweep frequency eddy current testing

Abstract

Thepaper proposes utilizationof eddy current inspection fordetection ofdefects intheartificialheart valve. Artificial heart valves are prosthetic replacements which are used if the function of the natural heart valve is limited. A special type of prosthetic heart valve replacements is the Bj¨ ork Shiley convexo-concave (BSCC) heart valve. The fractures of the BSCC artificial heart valve usually affect the outlet strut. If the fracture of the strut is not detected in time the patient can die of heart attack. Detection of the fracture in the outlet strut is the concern here. Experimental measurements are performed in order to evaluate the detection capability of the technique and the sensitivity of response signal to dimensional parameters of a fracture. A BSCC heart valve prototype having the electromagnetic characteristics of the Co-Cr (Hayness 25) alloy is inspected with a probe. A non-conductive defect is positioned in the outlet strut and its dimensions are varied. The probe is positioned above the centre of the crack and the frequency of exciting signal is changed in a wide range. The presented results demonstrate that the sweep frequency technique can enhance eddy current inspection of a defect in BSCC heart valve.