Aortic valve replacement with a subcoronary ball valve--early experiments.

Between the years 1954 and 1958, the combined effort of a surgeon and an engineer allowed the development of some of the principles of aortic valve construction that proved clinically successful several years later. It was demonstrated for the first time that there was adequate room in the area of the sinuses of Valsalva below the coronary arteries for a prosthetic ball valve, and that such a ball valve did not obstruct flow. Aortic pulse tracings with such a ball valve in place were indistinguishable from those with the natural valve. Finally, the principle of the cloth sewing ring was utilized for suturing the valve in place.