In this interview, Dr. Peter Hammer, engineer at Boston Children’s Hospital, discusses how quantitative mechanical testing is used to support pediatric heart valve repair surgeries.
Working directly with cardiac surgeons, Dr. Hammer applies biaxial mechanical testing to characterize the mechanical properties of native valve tissue and pericardial patch materials used during valve reconstruction. These measurements provide surgeons with quantitative guidance on tissue selection, fixation methods, and patch sizing to improve surgical durability and outcomes.
This work highlights how biomechanical testing can translate directly from the laboratory to the operating room, enabling evidence-based surgical decisions in pediatric cardiology.
