a mechanical heart valve and packaging wherein the mechanical valve is surrounded by a liquid . in one embodiment , a glutaraldehyde solution is used . in another embodiment , organic solvents are used . the liquid will not cause a particulate to form during storage . in addition , the liquid will not produce harmful changes in the polymeric sewing ring , for example . that is , the liquid does not cause degradation of the polymeric materials comprising the heart valve , nor does it cause swelling of such materials , nor the dissolution of polymeric materials .