The development and the testing of a polyurethane (Biomer) arterial prosthesis

Abstract

A novel small diameter (3·8 mm ID) arterial prosthesis has been designed, manufactured and tested as a replacement for the carotid artery in the dog. The graft is compliant in the longitudinal, circumferential and radial directions. It is anisotropic with compliances similar to those of the natural canine carotid artery. It is flexible, the inner blood contacting surface being smooth to the naked eye. It is composed of micro-fibres of 1·0 μm diameter, electrostatically drawn from a solution of polyetherurethane urea and deposited onto a rotating steel mandrel. Of 22 grafts confirmed by ultra-sound Doppler waveform analysis to be patent at 2 weeks after implantation, 17 were patent when removed at 2 years. The histological features of the excised grafts are described. © 1989 Indian Academy of Sciences.