Medicine
The Science Behind a Modern Prosthetic Heart Valve
Quick fact
Mechanical heart valves, typically made of pyrolytic carbon and metal, require lifelong anticoagulation therapy to prevent thrombus formation; bioprosthetic valves, made from animal tissue, have a lower risk of clotting but tend to degenerate within 10-20 years.
Why this is interesting
Mechanical or biological – modern prosthetic heart valves are marvels of engineering that must mimic a flap of tissue opening and closing 100,000 times a day without tearing, clotting, or wearing out.