Small-diameter blood vessels by weaving: prototyping and modelling

Abstract

Abstract For success in vascular surgery involving small-diameter (< 6 mm) vessels, a graft must closely match the internal diameter of the host artery and have desired high elasticity, porosity and transverse compliance. Thus although arterial grafts have gained acceptance in larger-calibre (> 6 mm) applications, where the requirements are flexible, a vein from the body continues to be preferred for small-vessel repair. The objective of this study is to develop an understanding of the material and the construction factors that affect the values of a woven tube's diameter, pore size, elastic recovery and transverse compliance. This information is largely absent in literature. By varying yarn size and fabric structure, seamless tubes (1.5–7 mm diameter) were constructed. These were heat set for circular shapes and characterised for size, geometry and radial elasticity. Property–structure correlation models are presented. Grafts of desired size can be engineered and their properties predicted. Keywords: arterial graftssmall diametermodellingwoven tubular graftscompliancemechanical properties Notes *The specimens were unsuitable for testing due to smaller diameters; WY, no. of warp yarns; PD, pick density; DO, denting order. *Actual value of compliance = 0.01 × value in table; actual value of standard deviation = 0.01 × value in table. †The specimens were unsuitable for testing due to smaller diameters.