Measurements on plastic flexible frames for heart valves have shown that the design
influences the creep potential of any one plastic material. This has been shown for
both in vitro accelerated fatigue tests and after clinical implantation of more than 10 years.
The flexibility of the plastic, a polypropylene, was not affected either by fatigue
testing, shelf storage or clinical implantation. The possibility of 30 years freedom
from creep for a flexible plastic frame for a tissue heart valve has been examined.
Creep - Flexibility - Fatigue - Cardiac valve support frames
