Elastomeric Microporous Vascular Graft for Endothelial Healing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current synthetic vascular grafts have a low success rate due to thrombosis, intimal hyperplasia, and infection, primarily caused by mechanical mismatch with native blood vessels and inadequate endothelial healing, leading to high failure rates and complications such as thrombosis and foreign body reactions.
Innovation Solution
A vascular graft with a compliant, elastomeric polymeric graft wall featuring interconnected pores of uniform size (25 μm to 85 μm) and a luminal surface coated with an endothelial cell growth substrate, made from crosslinked polyurethane with a specific molar ratio of soft to hard segments, and optionally reinforced with a non-degradable mesh, to match the mechanical properties of native blood vessels and promote endothelial healing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If rigid vascular graft materials (ePTFE and Dacron) are used, then sufficient strength to withstand suture is achieved, but mechanical mismatch with native blood vessels causes turbulence and repeated damage
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the mechanical parameters of the graft material by using elastomeric polymers with tunable compliance (Young's modulus between 0.1 MPa to 10 MPa) to match native blood vessels, resolving the contradiction between strength and adaptability
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs composite structures combining elastomeric polymeric materials with reinforcement layers or endothelial cell coatings, achieving both sufficient strength and mechanical compatibility with native vessels
2Ease of manufacture
If current synthetic graft materials are used, then ease of manufacture is maintained, but suboptimal blood compatibility induces thrombosis
Solution Approach 1:
The patent incorporates microporous structures (pore size 1-100 μm) in the graft material that promote endothelial cell infiltration and complete healing, significantly reducing thrombogenicity while maintaining ease of manufacture through established porous polymer fabrication techniques
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses endothelial cell growth substrates and bioactive coatings as intermediaries between the synthetic graft material and blood, improving blood compatibility while maintaining manufacturability
3Stability of the object's composition
If current graft materials are used, then structural stability is achieved, but foreign body reaction creates scar layer separating material from body
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-coating the graft with endothelial cell growth substrates and bioactive molecules before implantation, which preemptively reduce foreign body reaction and promote integration, maintaining structural stability while eliminating harmful scar formation
4Strength
If non-porous graft walls are used, then structural integrity is maintained, but endothelial cell growth through wall is prevented
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs microporous structures with controlled pore sizes (1-100 μm) that allow endothelial cells to migrate through the graft wall and form a complete endothelial lining, improving reliability while maintaining structural integrity through optimized pore architecture and reinforcement layers
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The graft achieves improved endothelial healing, reduced thrombogenicity, and enhanced biocompatibility, with a compliance matching that of native blood vessels, leading to increased durability and reduced failure rates by allowing blood vessel growth through the graft wall and minimizing foreign body responses.
Implementation Method 1
the graft wall has interconnected pores throughout the graft wall connecting the outer surface of the graft wall to the luminal surface of the graft wall, wherein each pore of the interconnected pores has a substantially uniform pore size, and wherein the pore size is in the range from about 25 μm to about 85 μm, and wherein the graft wall allows blood vessel growth through the wall to the luminal surface
Implementation Method 2
a compliant, elastomeric polymeric graft wall... to match the mechanical properties of native blood vessels
Implementation Method 3
the luminal surface is coated with a layer of endothelial cell growth substrate
Implementation Method 4
the polymeric graft wall comprises a crosslinked polyurethane comprising one or more soft segments and one or more hard segments
Data Source
AI summary
Synthetic polymeric vascular grafts that promote endothelial healing and methods of their preparation and use are provided.