Preliminary engineering of a biomimicking vascular graft

Development of an ideal small diameter vascular replacement is needed. Traditional approaches, as well as some newer approaches, have had limited success. The method applied here attempts to improve mechanical characteristics of biomimicking vascular grafts. Multiple layers of collagen fibers are wound concentrically along the long axis of a stainless steel shaft to serve as the main structural component and foundation upon which a vascular construct is built. A device to perform this function has been constructed and characterized to determine the range of angle and spacing possible. Results have shown that angle and spacing is within that documented for natural arteries. Utilization of this device to actually build a construct is expected to establish the feasibility of this method to develop a complete small diameter biomimicking vascular prosthetic.