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The State of the Art in Tissue Engineered Heart Valves

Introduction
As advances in science and medicine have occurred, the idea of "tissue engineering", which focuses on fabricating living replacement body tissue and organs by cultivating cells has evolved. In the last decade the field of tissue engineering has grown dramatically and its use to combat disease and injury has the potential to revolutionise methods of health care treatment and improve the quality of life for millions of people.

One such disease that many people suffer from is valvular heart disease which affects the regulation of blood flow through the heart. It is estimated that 300,000 valve replacement procedures are performed annually around the world .

Conventional treatment for this type of disease is undertaken using mechanical devices and prostheses. However, they come with significant disadvantages such as noise, rejection and transmission of infection. Biological valves such as hetrographs or......

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Approximate Word Count: 1776
Approximate Pages: 8 (250 words per double-spaced page)

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