Soft Tissue Replacement II: Blood-Interfacing Implants

Abstract

The blood interfacing implants can be divided into two categories: (1) short-term extracorporeal implants such as membranes for artificial organs (kidney and heart-lung machine) and tubes and catheters for the transport of blood; and (2) long-term in situ implants such as vascular implants and implantable artificial organs. Although pacemakers for the heart are not interfaced with blood they are considered here because these devices help to circulate blood throughout the body.