1. Cause of degenerative disease of the trileaflet aortic valve: review of subject and presentation of a new theory 
Francis Robicsek, MD, PhD, Mano J Thubrikar, PhD, Alexander A Fokin, MD, PhD 
The Annals of Thoracic Surgery 
Volume 73, Issue 4, Pages (April 2002)
DOI: /S (01)

2. Fig 1
Among patients undergoing operation for isolated aortic stenosis (637 cases total), the relative number of cases attributed to various causes changed from 1965 to (Reprinted from Dare AJ, et al, Human Pathol; 1993;24:1330–8 [7], with permission.)
The Annals of Thoracic Surgery  , DOI: ( /S (01) )

3. Fig 2
Schematic drawing of the aortic root with various dimensions of the valve. (a-d = (alpha) leaflet angle; cc = coaptation height; da = aortic diameter [other dimensions are reported with respect to da as 1]; dsm = maximum sinus diameter; ds = area averaged sinus diameter; dv = flow inlet diameter; f = free edge; h = height from valve base to top of commissure; 1c = width of the leaflet; 1s = length of the sinus; 0 = free edge angle.) (Reprinted from Swanson WM, Circ Res; 1974;35:871–82 [22], with permission.)
The Annals of Thoracic Surgery  , DOI: ( /S (01) )

4. Fig 3
Actual data points showing the dynamic motion of the leaflets and commissures in three cardiac cycles. (SEC = seconds.) (Reprinted from Thubrikar M, Am J Cardiol; 1977;40:563–8 [32], with permission from Excerpta Medica, Inc.).
The Annals of Thoracic Surgery  , DOI: ( /S (01) )

5. Fig 4
Stress contours in the aortic root when the flexible sinuses are present versus when the sinuses are absent (tubular graft). Colors correspond to stress values in newtons per square millimeter. (Reprinted from Beck A, et al, J Heart Valve Dis; 2001;10:1–11 [30], with permission.).
The Annals of Thoracic Surgery  , DOI: ( /S (01) )

6. Fig 5
Newly designed aortic root prosthesis having the compliant sinuses is shown in position after the aortic valve-sparing operation is completed. (Reprinted from Thubrikar MJ and Robicsek F, United States Patent Office, 2000 [50] with permission.)
The Annals of Thoracic Surgery  , DOI: ( /S (01) )

7. Fig 6
Aortic distensibility decreases markedly as the ages grow older even though their atherosclerotic changes are very slight. (P = pressure; R = radius; t = wall thickness.) (Reprinted from Nakashima T and Tanikawa J, Angiology 1971;22:477–90 [55], with permission.).
The Annals of Thoracic Surgery  , DOI: ( /S (01) )

8. Fig 7
Five hundred frames/sec cinematography showing the leaflet surface during valve opening. In the natural, compliant aortic root, the leaflet free edges look sharp, and the leaflet surface is smooth and without wrinkles. In the stiffened aortic root, the leaflet free edges look blurry, and there are many wrinkles present in the leaflet surface. (Reprinted from Robicsek F and Thubrikar MJ, Am J Cardiol 1999;84:944-6 [49], with permission from Excerpta Medica Inc.).
The Annals of Thoracic Surgery  , DOI: ( /S (01) )