An experimental and numerical study of the effect of venous valve morphology on flow conditions

Venous valves are critical components of the circulatory system. They work in tandem with skeletal muscles to help pump blood from the lower extremities back to the heart against the pull of gravity. However, venous valves are notedly the typical location where venous thromboembolism (VTE) originates. VTE, which includes both deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and pulmonary embolism (PE), is a leading cause of death in the United States. Here, we utilize experiments using silicone venous valve models and numerical simulations using a three-dimensional fluid-solid interaction (FSI) model to investigate the effect of valve morphology on disease-conducive flow conditions in the vicinity of the venous valve sinus. This study moves us toward an understanding of how patient-specific valve morphology affects their risk of disease.