AAWSAP DIRD, Biomaterials, January 2010

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Medical Devices Used in the Bloodstream
Blood contact time
Catheters
Min-days
Guidewires
Min-hrs
Sensors
Min-months
Pacemaker
10 yrs
Vascular Graft
lifetime
Heart Valve
lifetime
Stent
lifetime
Extracorporeal Oxygenation
hrs
Artificial Kidney (hemodialyzer)
hrs
Total Artificial Heart
10 yrs
Left Ventricular Assist Device (LVAD) Days-yrs
Figure 21. Some of the More Popular Biomedical Devices and Duration of Their Blood Contact
Biomaterials are used as vascular grafts for artery replacements in which they are
connected (grafted) onto natural blood vessels at both ends. When arteries, particularly
the coronary arteries and the vessels of the lower limbs, become blocked by fatty
deposits (atherosclerosis), segments in some cases can be replaced with grafts. Figure
22 shows commercial vascular grafts made by Gore Medical (Flagstaff, Arizona, USA) .
Figure 22. Gore Medical Teflon Foam Used in Vascular Grafts. These are artificial blood vessels used to
replace blood vessels in the human body damaged by accident, atherothrosclerosis, or diabetic vascular disease.
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