Traditional hand-suturing for vascular connection techniques is time consuming, expensive, and requires highly complex instruments and technical expertise. The aim of this study is to develop a new vascular coupler that can be used in end-to-end anastomosis surgery in an easier and more efficient way for both arteries and veins. The vascular coupler has four rotatable wings and one translatable spike in each wing. Prototypes were manufactured using polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) and high-density polyethylene (HDPE). A set of installation tools was designed to facilitate the anastomosis process. Proof-of-concept testing with the vascular coupler using plastic tubes and porcine cadaver vessels showed that the coupler should work as designed. A simplified finite element (FE) model assisted in the evaluation of the tearing likelihood of human vessels during installation of the coupler. Results of tests on the coupler showed that the vascular coupler could be efficiently attached to blood vessels, did not leak after the anastomosis was performed, had sufficient joint strength, and had little impact on flow in the vessel. The entire anastomosis process can be completed in 3 min when using the vascular coupler to join porcine cadaver vessels.
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September 2015
Research-Article
A New Vascular Coupler Design for End-to-End Anastomosis: Fabrication and Proof-of-Concept Evaluation
Huizhong Li,
Huizhong Li
Department of Mechanical Engineering,
University of Utah
,Salt Lake City, UT 84112
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Cody Gehrke,
Cody Gehrke
Department of Mechanical Engineering,
University of Utah
,Salt Lake City, UT 84112
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Bruce K. Gale,
Bruce K. Gale
1
Department of Mechanical Engineering,
e-mail: bruce.gale@utah.edu
University of Utah
,50 S Central Campus Drive Rm 2110
,Salt Lake City, UT 84112
e-mail: bruce.gale@utah.edu
1Corresponding author.
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Himanshu Sant,
Himanshu Sant
Department of Mechanical Engineering,
University of Utah
,Salt Lake City, UT 84112
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Brittany Coats,
Brittany Coats
Department of Mechanical Engineering,
University of Utah
,Salt Lake City, UT 84112
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Jay Agarwal
Jay Agarwal
Department of Surgery,
University of Utah
,Salt Lake City, UT 84132
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Huizhong Li
Department of Mechanical Engineering,
University of Utah
,Salt Lake City, UT 84112
Cody Gehrke
Department of Mechanical Engineering,
University of Utah
,Salt Lake City, UT 84112
Bruce K. Gale
Department of Mechanical Engineering,
e-mail: bruce.gale@utah.edu
University of Utah
,50 S Central Campus Drive Rm 2110
,Salt Lake City, UT 84112
e-mail: bruce.gale@utah.edu
Himanshu Sant
Department of Mechanical Engineering,
University of Utah
,Salt Lake City, UT 84112
Brittany Coats
Department of Mechanical Engineering,
University of Utah
,Salt Lake City, UT 84112
Jay Agarwal
Department of Surgery,
University of Utah
,Salt Lake City, UT 84132
1Corresponding author.
Manuscript received July 7, 2014; final manuscript received February 23, 2015; published online July 16, 2015. Assoc. Editor: John LaDisa.
J. Med. Devices. Sep 2015, 9(3): 031002 (6 pages)
Published Online: September 1, 2015
Article history
Received:
July 7, 2014
Revision Received:
February 23, 2015
Online:
July 16, 2015
Citation
Li, H., Gehrke, C., Gale, B. K., Sant, H., Coats, B., and Agarwal, J. (September 1, 2015). "A New Vascular Coupler Design for End-to-End Anastomosis: Fabrication and Proof-of-Concept Evaluation." ASME. J. Med. Devices. September 2015; 9(3): 031002. https://doi.org/10.1115/1.4029924
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