TU068

Thoraflex™ Hybrid device is a woven polyester prosthesis, with the addition of nitinol ring stents. The device is specifically designed for the treatment of aneurysm and/or dissection in the ascending thoracic aorta, aortic arch and descending thoracic aorta. Branches are provided to accommodate reconstruction of the major aortic branch vessels and intra-operative attachment of a perfusion cannula during cardio-pulmonary bypass where antegrade perfusion techniques are employed. The stented section of the graft enables treatment of the diseased descending thoracic aorta in a single-stage procedure without the need to anastamose a stented and unstented prostheses together. Thoraflex Hybrid™ device has been impregnated with an absorbable protein. The aim of the impregnation is to provide a polyester vascular prosthesis which does not require pre-clotting. The protein is a bovine gelatin which has been cross-linked to a set level to control its rate of removal. It serves in place of fibrin, which seals the polyester prosthesis during normal pre-clotting. The gelatin is hydrolyzed within approximately 14 days and is replaced by normal tissue incorporation. Gelatin has been chosen as it is a non-toxic protein, a fact which is reflected by its extensive use as a safe plasma expander.