3D-Printed Antithrombogenic Sutureless Device for Vascular Anastomosis
Abstract
Vascular anastomosis is hand-sewing or suturing together of blood vessels. It is a foundational surgical skill critical for all kinds of surgeries, including plastic and reconstructive surgery, transplant surgery, and vascular surgery. However, a surgeon needs a decade of training to perform this procedure. Even with skilled surgeons, 27% of cases result in complications and 25% require reoperation. Procedures are long, expensive, and require specialized operating rooms, equipment, and personnel, thus making the highly in-demand procedure prohibitive in the majority of combat hospitals. A more efficient, cost-effective, and safer alternative for vascular anastomoses is desperately needed. We have created a unique anastomotic device, Vaso-Lock, as a sutureless coupler to hold free vascular ends together with traction by anchors. The anchors do not penetrate the vessel wall; rather, they exert force against the vessel walls, utilizing the elasticity of the vessels to hold the vessel in place with a tight seal. We utilize 3D-printing to prototype these couplers, which allows for quick adjustments in designs with customization freedom, cost-effective prototyping, and fast production. Importantly, the Vaso-Lock device can be deployed in arteries within 1 minute, while handsewn anastomosis can take around 1 hour by a proficiently trained surgeon. In terms of clinical application of a permanent implantable anastomotic device, our next step is to devise methods to provide long-term patency. Here, we will develop a surface-modification approach to facilitate endothelial cell affinity and anticoagulant ability of the device and test its efficacy in a swine arteriovenous loop model. Our long-term goal is to apply our devices to change the paradigm of surgical training and practice and improve technical capabilities for vascular anastomosis. Eventually, our device can be scaled to dramatically enhance the efficiency and reduce the risk of complications associated with vascular injuries, such as tissue flaps for treatment of traumatic injuries in a wartime scenario.
Document Details
- Document Type
- DoD Grant Award
- Publication Date
- Jan 04, 2024
- Source ID
- HT94252310022
Entities
People
- Xiaowei Li
Organizations
- United States Army
- Washington University in St. Louis