title: Bionic approach for the prevention of exit-site infections of percutaneous devices.
abstract: Exit-site infections remain one of the main complications for percutaneous devices, such as catheters for peritoneal dialysis or drivelines for ventricular assist devices. Many efforts have been made to create a biological seal, yet without long-term success. This study investigates a new kind of percutaneous device which is coated with an extricable polymeric membrane. The bionic approach applies the naturally outwards directed growth of skin structures to technology: by pulling the protective membrane it slowly grows out of the body and a developing sulcus is exposed to dry air and an infection is avoided. In a feasibility study this kind of device was shown to reduce the rate of infection. To further investigate these devices, they were implanted in the skin of goats and observed for a period of more than 500 days. The membranes were pulled with a force of up to 2 N and the resulting movement was recorded. When being pulled, the membranes moved 0.4-0.9 mm per week, showing that the application of a continuously acting, defined force on the protective membrane causes the desired slow movement.
authors.forename: Johannes
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Großhauser
authors.forename: Katja
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Reiter
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Große-Siestrup
authors.forename: Judith
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kikhney
authors.forename: Ulrich
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Kertzscher
authors.forename: Klaus
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Affeld
mesh_terms: D001701:Bionics / Q000295:instrumentation*; D057785:Catheters / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000592:standards; D006353:Heart-Assist Devices / Q000382:microbiology*; D017053:Infection Control / Q000295:instrumentation*; D010530:Peritoneal Dialysis / Q000295:instrumentation*; D012867:Skin / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000166:cytology*