Body implants vascular grafts

Vascular grafts are tubular devices implanted throughout the body to replace blood vessels which have become obstmcted by plaque, atherosclerosis, or otherwise weakened by an aneurysm. Grafts are used most often in peripheral bypass surgery to restore arterial blood flow in the legs. 

Many other applications for plasma polymers in the Life Sciences have been dted, often in relation to implantable medical devices or materials, with the goal of concealing the device from the bodies defence mechanisms, or improving cell colonisation of the material, e.g. endothelial cell growth into vascular grafts. A number of excellent studies from the group of Hans Griesser (CSIRO, Australia) describe the use of plasma polymers as substrates to which biomolecules can be immobilised. These immobilisations have been demonstrated to enhance the medium-term acceptability of contact lens materials and may prove relevant to implantable devices. 

Implantable materials are used in effecting a repair to the body, be it wound closure (sutures) or replacement surgery (vascular grafts, artificial ligaments, etc.). Table 5.4 illustrates the range of specific products employed within this category, with the type of materials and methods of manufacture. Biocompatibility is of prime importance if... 

The use of body implants for, for example, vascular grafting and tissue engineering may have even greater future potential as new methods and materials for body implants are presented. However, the rapid development in 3D printing and... 

An implantable medical device (IMD) operates inside the body to monitor certain physiological parameters. Based on the power requirements of the device, IMDs are divided into two categories (i) active (the devices that need power) and (ii) passive (those that do not require power). Examples of passive IMDs are artificial joints and vascular grafts, whereas active IMDs may include cardiac defibrillators, cardiac pacemakers, neurostimulators, drug pumps, cochlear implants, and retinal implants. The need to broaden the assortment of effectively active IMDs is constantly increasing. 

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