What Is a Pyrolytic Carbon Heart Valve?

A pyrolytic carbon heart valve is a mechanical replacement or prosthetic. Mechanical heart valves are used, according to the American Heart Association, to replace a diseased or damaged valve that is beyond repair.

Pyrolytic Carbon

• Pyrolytic carbon is a turbostratic carbon, which are materials that are structurally similar to graphite but have greater durability, reports azom.com. It is considered to be biocompatible, meaning the body doesn't react badly to it.

History

• Medgadget.com notes that, in the late 1960s, pyrolytic carbon was originally being developed for use as coating for nuclear fuel. The material proved to be viable as a replacement for the metal and plastic used in heart valves at the time.

Heart Valves

• The heart valves themselves are not pure pyrolytic carbon, but a layer of pyrolytic carbon over a graphite core that, prior to 1996, was a silicon/pyrolitic carbon alloy. An alternative to the silicon alloy is now available, according to azom.com

Benefits

• In addition to the biocompatibility, the benefits of pyrolytic carbon heart valves include durability and strength. The material also helps to inhibit the development of blood clots (thromboresistant).

Prevalence

• Pyrolytic carbon is, reports azom.com, the most popular material in use for mechanical heart valves, with over 4 million devices having been made.