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A Growth-Accommodating Implant for Paediatric Applications

Friday, October 13, 2017

Submitted by

Arie Blitz

Source

Source Name: Nature Biomedical Engineering

Source URL: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41551-017-0142-5

Author(s)

Eric N. Feins, Yuhan Lee, Eoin D. O’Cearbhaill, Nikolay V. Vasilyev, Shogo Shimada, Ingeborg Friehs, Douglas Perrin, Peter E. Hammer, Haruo Yamauchi, Gerald Marx, Andrew Gosline, Veaceslav Arabagi, Jeffrey M. Karp, Pedro J. del Nido

The authors report on the design and use of a growth-accommodating device that may have a variety of pediatric applications, including valve annuloplasty. The device consists of a biodegradable core and a tubular braided sleeve (woven much like a 'finger trap' toy). After implantation, the core—which constrains the length of the device—degrades so as to allow the annuloplasty to enlarge gradually over time. Thus, the device 'grows' with the child. The authors further present validation of the device in a swine model.

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