Down the tubes

摘要

Any structure, however well built, suffers wear and tear over the years. In the human body, it is not merely some of the main organs that can go kaput, but also the plumbing system: arteries and veins. Finding replacement plumbing is not yet as simple as buying a length of copper tube, however. But two new techniques for growing replacement arteries may make life easier for surgeons. At the Georgia Institute of Technology, Raymond Vito and his team have been experimenting with "distraction angioge-nesis". This involves implanting a mechanical device that stretches an existing section of an artery, known as the gastro-epiploic artery, which is located below the stomach. The device uses hydraulically driven rollers to lengthen the artery. Pressure is released by withdrawing fluid via a subcutaneous port with a syringe.