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Session: Medical Instruments
Session starts: Thursday 24 January, 13:30
Presentation starts: 13:45
Room: Lecture room 557

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Amir Basir (Department of Experimental Cardiology, Division Heart and Lungs, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, the Netherlands)
M. Roest ()
P.F. Gründeman ()
C. Tersteeg ()
C. Maas ()
A.D. Barendrecht ()
W. Muller ()
J.A. van Herwaarden ()
J. Kluin ()
F.L. Moll ()
Gerard Pasterkamp ()
Ph.G. de Groot ()

Abstract:
OBJECTIVES: Different materials have been used for vascular and heart valve prostheses. Major drawbacks of current valve prostheses are a need for strong anticoagulants, moderate durability and low resistance to fatigue and tear. Dyneema Purity® fibers are made from Ultra High Molecular Weight Polyethylene (UHMWPE) and are flexible, fatigue- and tear resistant and have high strength. Therefore, prostheses made from Dyneema Purity® fibers might be attractive for use in minimally invasive treatment of valvular and vascular disease. The aim of this study is to test the biocompatibility of Dyneema Purity® fibers In Vitro in blood contact. METHODS: Blood of three randomly chosen donors was used to do three different experiments. First, platelet adhesion on filaments (Ø 15µm) of Dyneema Purity® fibers and Polyester (gold standard) were tested in Polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) perfusion chambers and visualized by light microscopy. Then patches were studied. Woven patches of Dyneema Purity® fibers were compared with the 5 most commonly used patch prostheses, i.e. a knitted and a woven polyester fabric and 3 different ePTFE patches. Please note that the construction and surface characteristics of these patches are different. Coagulation activation was tested by measuring the thrombin formation over time. Platelet adhesion, activation and aggregation were studied in a flow chamber and visualized with SEM. RESULTS: The platelet adhesion on Dyneema Purity® filaments was significantly lower compared with polyester filaments in the PDMS perfusion chamber experiment (P<0.05). The time to peak of thrombin generation was non- inferior for patches of Dyneema Purity® fibers, compared with the reference materials. Results of the patch perfusion test are being generated now. CONCLUSIONS: The first experiment indicates that Dyneema Purity® filaments are non-inferior to polyester filaments with respect to platelet adhesion in human blood. A woven patch of Dyneema Purity® fibers also appeared non-inferior with respect to thrombin generation compared to the reference materials. The results from the other experiment will provide additional data on the possible suitability of Dyneema Purity® fibers for use in minimally invasive treatment of valvular and vascular diseases.