A highly blood-compatible material comprising a polymeric base material and water-soluble and substantially nonionic polymer(s) directly attached to the surface of the base material in an amount of 1 to 100 .mu.g/cm.sup.2. The polymeric base material is preferably in the form of a web and composed of polyurethane, ethylene/vinyl acetate copolymer or polyvinylchloride. In addition, the attached polymers may be selected from the group consisting of acrylamide polymers, polyvinylpyrrolidone, polyvi...

A disposable vascular occluding device for temporarily stopping or interrupting blood flow in veins or arteries of the body during vascular surgery and emergency trauma surgery is constructed with two plastic arms connected at one end by a hinge for pivoting the arms towards and away from each other and connected at an end opposite the hinged end by a toothed latch for releasably securing the plastic arms in a closed position with inner surfaces thereof confronting each other. The inner surfaces...

A vascular puncture dressing is described. The dressing includes a pressure-sensitive adhesive tape section, and at least a pair of adhesive strips extend forwardly from the forward edge of the dressing. The dressing preferably is transparent at least in an area adjacent the forward edge so that the vascular puncture wound can be observed without removal of the dressing.

The invention provides a method of treating a mammal having, or at risk of, an indication associated with a TGF-beta deficiency comprising administering one or more agents that is effective to elevate the level of TGF-beta. The invention also provides novel compounds that elevate TGF-beta levels, as well as pharmaceutical compositions comprising compounds that elevate TGF-beta levels, and methods for detecting diseases associated with endothelial cell activation.

A synthetic vascular prosthesis comprises a hollow tubular base member having a multitude of continuous pores and formed of an elastomer material, and a hydrogel layer formed on the inner surface of the base member. The hydrogel layer is partly embedded in the inner portion of the base member at the pores, thereby permitting anchoring adhesion between the hydrogel layer and the base member. A method for manufacturing the synthetic vascular prosthesis is also disclosed, in which the formation of ...

A method for treating the vascular passage of a patient, damaged by procedures such as an endarterectomy which denude portions of the vascular passages of their endothelial cell linings, is disclosed. In this method, endothelial cells are isolated from the patient's own microvessels, the flow of blood through the patient's damaged vascular passage is interrupted, the endothelial cells isolated from the patient's microvessels are applied to the surface of the denuded portion of the patient's vasc...

An ultrasonic imaging system having imaging and Doppler displays. The imaging and Doppler transducers are scanned simultaneously and the Doppler transducer is stopped and triggered at a selected angle of its oscillation.

A mandrel assembly supports an umbilical cord during the shaping and curing of the cord for use as a vascular graft. The mandrel assembly has a pair of mandrel members adapted to be releasably connected in end-to-end relation. Adjacent end sections of the mandrel members have reduced cross sectional shapes to provide the graft with a throat to restrict the flow of blood through the vascular graft. Each mandrel member has a low friction outer surface to facilitate the insertion and withdrawal of ...

Certain substances are provided which have the ability to relax smooth vascular muscle, having an endothelial lining, when administered in vitro or by intravenous injection. Examples of useful substances which are pharmaceutically-acceptable include phospholipase A.sub.2 (PLA.sub.2) and certain lysolecithins. The concentration required is at least about 3 units of PLA.sub.2 and at least about 10.sup.-5 Molar lysolecithin. The lysolecithins are dissolved in a suitable solvent, such as dimethyl su...

A guidewire arranged to be transported through the vascular system composed of a helically wound tapered spring, a length of tubing attached to the proximal end of the spring, a wire attached to the inner surface of and extending to the tip of the spring for curving the tip to a desired shape, and a tapered core wire moveably disposed in the tubing and spring and or sufficient length to extend to the tip of the spring to vary the stiffness and curvature of the tip.