Multiple feature acoustic classification of BSCC artificial heart valves

Mechanical prosthetic heart valves generate sounds which may be used to infer their structural status. Acoustical signal processing methods have been applied to the Bjork-Shiley Convexo-Concave (BSCC) heart valve, which in rare instances may experience outlet strut fracture. An objective classifier has been developed that isolates and characterizes a frequency component shown to be associated with the intact BSCC valve. Analysis of recordings from 24 confirmed clinical cases resulted in a 93% specificity (13 of 14 properly classified as intact) and 100% sensitivity (10 of 10 properly classified as structurally altered)