Improvement of vascular grafts compliance by modifying their thermal treatment.
To produce properly matching vascular grafts and replace arteries, samples of Czech weft- and warp-knitted vascular grafts (MF and RA respectively) were tested. Their deformation response was measured on a special experimental device.  Samples of these grafts, prepared under different thermal conditions, were then produced and tested.  Strong dependence of graft compliance on graft temperature treatment was found.  The most compliant structure was achieved when this temperature was set at 160  degrees C and applied for 10 min, which was sufficient to fix the crimps properly. Nevertheless, the grafts produced under these optimum conditions are still more rigid than the replaced arteries.
Department of Biomechanics, Institute of Hydrodynamics, Czech Academy of Sciences, Prague.
M
M
Zácek
J
J
Konfrst
D001807:Blood Vessel Prosthesis / Q000295:instrumentation*; D003187:Compliance; D004055:Differential Thermal Analysis / Q000379:methods; D006358:Hot Temperature; D006801:Humans; D008422:Materials Testing / Q000295:instrumentation; D010539:Permeability; D011095:Polyethylenes / Q000737:chemistry; D011138:Polytetrafluoroethylene / Q000737:chemistry; D011474:Prosthesis Design