In-Vivo/In-Vitro Life Testing of Vascular Prostheses

Abstract

A real-time in-vitro life tester for vascular prostheses has been developed and demonstrated. The existing tester can be used for initial testing of new materials and structures for vascular prostheses, minimizing expensive and difficult long-term animal implants. The in-vivo/in-vitro data suggest that a mechanical fatigue mode of failure must be investigated for new types of vascular prostheses. The short-term data achieved to date indicate that the most commonly used vascular prostheses material, Dacron yarn, initially loses some strength but then appears to stabilize. Teflon yarn, in a textile structure, demonstrates a slight gain in strength. Long-term explant data confirm these observations.