Artificial Vein : A boon to Surgery

Results from human trials into the new plastic vein -- which is being developed for use in bypass operations -- have shown a 100 per cent success rate in the first six months.

The artificial artery is different from those currently in use because it is "rifled" inside, like a gun barrel, and encourages blood to spiral as it moves along.

Until recently it was assumed that blood flowed in a straight line, and artificial veins were manufactured with smooth insides to reflect that. However it was discovered that blood corkscrews as it flows, causing less friction or damage to arteries and helping to clear away potential blockages. Based on this scientists developed an artificial vein to mimic the natural spiralling movement of human blood.

The simple adjustment from a smooth to a "rifled" vein has produced "remarkable" results in human trials.

The findings represent a breakthrough in the future treatment offered to the 10.7 million people who suffer from peripheral arterial diseases, including those that lead to amputations, heart attacks and strokes.

But so far all the grafts have stayed open and bloodflow speed has remained constant.

How it works :

The new artificial vein mimics naturally occurring spiral laminar flow (SLF) of blood in healthy human arteries

The spiralling motion is started by the pumping action of the heart and continues in human veins, which expand and contract and also twist slightly to 'spin' blood as it flows around the body

SLF evolved in humans as the most efficient way of transporting blood, because it reduces turbulence and friction in arteries, causing less damage. It also naturally sweeps

In diseased veins, caused for example by smoking, obesity and diabetes, the spiralling motion breaks down and veins become sluggish. Blockages then occur that cause areas of turbulence in the vein and result in pain

The new artificial vein, used in bypass operations to replace diseased sections of vein, is a plastic tube with an internal groove that encourages blood to spiral again

Because the new vein makes blood spiral, the implant suffers less friction and less damage. As a result the implants are expected to have a lifespan of at least twice as long as smooth artificial veins currently in use

It is indeed a big leap forward in surgery.