The heart has four chambers - two upper chambers called atria and two lower chambers called ventricles. Between the atria and ventricles are valves that allow blood to flow in only one direction through the heart. The valves ensure that blood flows smoothly through the heart and into the arteries without any backflow. The four valves in the heart are:

- Mitral valve (between the left atrium and left ventricle)
- Tricuspid valve (between the right atrium and right ventricle)
- Pulmonary valve (from the right ventricle to the pulmonary artery)
- Aortic valve (from the left ventricle to the aorta)

When the valves do not function properly due to damage or defects, they need to be repaired or replaced. This is where Prosthetic Heart Valves come into play.

Types of Prosthetic Heart Valves
There are three main types of prosthetic heart valves used today:

Mechanical Heart Valves
Mechanical valves are made entirely from artificial materials like carbon and special metals. The main types are:

- Tilting disc valves - Have a circular disc that tilts to open and close. Example is St. Jude Medical valve.

- Bileaflet valves - Have two semicircular discs that open and close. Example is Medtronic Hall valve.

- Ball-and-cage valves - Contain a ball that sits within a cage. The ball rises and falls to open and close. Example is Starr-Edwards valve.

Mechanical valves last the longest, sometimes decades, but require lifelong blood thinning medication as they are not biologically compatible.

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