Enhanced patency rates of small-caliber vascular grafts

摘要

Current commercially available vascular grafts for the replacement of diseased small-caliber arterial segments show low patency rates. This is a result of their low radial elasticity compared to native blood vessels. At the Institut fuer Textiltechnik (ITA) of RWTH Aachen University, elastic and non-elastic yarns are combined in textile vascular grafts by the use of warp knitting technology. This combination of material and structural elasticity in warp knitted vascular grafts shall model the native vessels' compliance and improve patency rates.