N.Z.-designed heart valve
PA Auckland A new type of plastic frame for use in heart valve transplants has been designed and developed in New Zealand. The frame, the work of the leading heart surgeon. Sir Brian Barratt-Boyes and Dr F. J. Thomson, from the mechanical engineering department at Auckland University. is being manufactured by a Northcote firm, Alfred Holt and Company, Ltd. It was first tested on animals and is now being used in human heart valve transplants. Described as the most advanced of its tyne in the world, it is being exported to several countries. Sir Brian said yesterday
the new frame was more flexible than earlier models and decreased the stress on the valve leafflets. It was the first such valve of its type in the world. All others are rigid and made from titanium, stainless steel, or hard plastic. The frame, which is called a stent, is made from a flexible plastic, acetal copolymer. The decision to use acetol copolymer was made after exhaustive tests with other types of plastic in a die tooled at the university engineering workshop. Dacron cloth is’sewn into the frame to support the donor valve. The valve is then sewn into the dacron in its correct position and sterilised in readiness for implantation.
Permanent link to this item
https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/CHP19781024.2.80
Bibliographic details
Press, 24 October 1978, Page 19
Word Count
211N.Z.-designed heart valve Press, 24 October 1978, Page 19
Using This Item
Stuff Ltd is the copyright owner for the Press. You can reproduce in-copyright material from this newspaper for non-commercial use under a Creative Commons BY-NC-SA 3.0 New Zealand licence. This newspaper is not available for commercial use without the consent of Stuff Ltd. For advice on reproduction of out-of-copyright material from this newspaper, please refer to the Copyright guide.
Copyright in all Footrot Flats cartoons is owned by Diogenes Designs Ltd. The National Library has been granted permission to digitise these cartoons and make them available online as part of this digitised version of the Press. You can search, browse, and print Footrot Flats cartoons for research and personal study only. Permission must be obtained from Diogenes Designs Ltd for any other use.
Acknowledgements
This newspaper was digitised in partnership with Christchurch City Libraries.