Vascular Grafts for Needle Free Dialysis Access Devices.

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): The objective of this Phase I SBIR proposal is to evaluate a novel vascular graft design for use as the arteriovenous (AV) graft component of a new needle-free access port. Significance: Hemodialysis patients require painful punctures with large needles for vascular access on a near-daily basis. This worsens quality of life, and the repeated tissue trauma makes maintenance of a reliable long-term access difficult. AV grafts (the safest option for the 40% of patients unable to sustain an autogenous fistula) are prone to thrombosis at the venous anastomosis and other needle-trauma-related complications such as infection and hematoma. A device that could circumvent the issues associated with needlesticks and provide patient-friendly long-term vascular access with low complication rate would have major impact. Innovation: STARport is a new percutaneous hemodialysis port under development that provides blunt cannula access to the inside of an AV graft. It uses Healionics'