Textile Prosthesis for Vascular Applications

Abstract

The goal of this study was to develop a whole new class of implantable endoluminal prosthesis for biomedical applications based on advanced textile technology. The most likely initial application is in the field of arterial circulation. In this study a prototype endovascular textile prosthesis was developed consisting of integrated sealing and reinforcing component. The prosthesis had inherent advantage of reducing concentration of mechanical stress, which will be responsible for the device failure. Basic fabric forming methods such as braiding and narrow weaving were explored for bio-medical textile applications. The specific application of this endovascular textile prosthesis would be primarily in human blood vessels to combat Coronary Artery Disease (CAD). The current study strictly focuses on prototype manufacturing of ‘textile stent’ to be used as substitute for commercially available metal stents in near future. The developed prototype textile stent is an integrated braided and seamless tubular narrow woven fabric assembly. The braided structure acts as reinforcing component and narrow woven seamless tubular fabric tightly covering it, acts as sealing component. Various braided structures to be used as reinforcing component were made with 1100 denier polyester monofilament yarn and tested for compression resistance on Instron materials tester. The variables studied were braid diameter, braid angle and heat set time. All variables and their interactions have statistically significant effect on compression resistance properties of braided structures. The seamless tubular fabric to be used as sealing component was manufactured on narrow loom with 150 denier polyester multifilament yarn used in both warp and weft directions. Another seamless tubular fabric was manufactured with nylon-lycra elastic yarn in weft direction. The tubular elastic fabric facilitated integration of braided and narrow woven seamless tubular structures in the prototype textile stent. Monofilament was used in reinforcing component of the prototype due to its stiffness and multifilament for sealing component as it will be easy to control porosity of sealing component in future textile stent structures. A prototype of bifurcated stent was also developed for abdominal aortic aneurysm application. The prototype bifurcated stent was manufactured on Wardwell composite braiding machine with 1100 denier polyester monofilament yarn.

DISCLAIMER The author makes no representation, promise, express or imply warranty concerning the suitability of ‘prototype textile stents’ for implantation in any living organism. These prototypes were strictly developed for this specific research study and the results and applications are valid and limited only to this study. The results do not approve or endorse the implantation of such prototype textile stents devices. The author has no control over the information given in the references and can’t be held responsible for their content and authenticity.