Cardiovascular Biomaterials

1 Mechanical Properties of Arteries and Arterial Grafts.- Mechanical Properties of Arteries.- PET and PTFE Prostheses.- Biological Grafts.- Elastomeric Prostheses.- Conclusions.- 2 Blood Compatibility in Cardiopulmonary Bypass.- Blood-Material Interactions.- Blood Gas Exchange in Extracorporeal Devices.- Influence of Cardiopulmonary Bypass on Blood Components.- 3 Collagen in Cardiovascular Tissues.- Collagen in Health and Disease.- The Collagen Molecule.- Biosynthesis.- Different Types of Collagen.- Continuum Between Cytoplasm and Extracellular Matrix...- Wound Healing.- Fibrosis.- Fibrotic Response to Implantation of Foreign Materials…..- Collagen Degradation.- Crosslinking.- Blood Vessels: Arteries and Veins.- Heart Valves.- Biomechanical Modulation of Connective Tissue Metabolism.- Collagen, Platelet Aggregation and Thrombosis.- Collagen as a Biomaterial.- Crosslinking of Collagen by Glutaraldehyde.- Vascular Grafts.- Relationship Between Surface Charge of the Vascular Interface and Thrombosis.- Calcification of Vascular Tissues.- Mechanisms of Calcification.- Calcification of Collagen-Based Cardiovascular Prostheses.- 4 Biostability of Vascular Protheses.- Current Vascular Prostheses.- Biological Response.- Long-Term Failure Modes.- New Materials.- 5 Heart Valve Replacements: Problems and Developments.- Mechanical Valves.- Tissue Valves.- Conclusions.- 6 Cardiac Assist Devices.- Housing.- Diaphragm.- Valves.- Conduits.- Comphance Chamber.