New Access Graft Aids Dialysis Patients

A new vascular access graft incorporating biomaterial allows early access and improves the time required for the graft to stop bleeding after dialysis. The graft is designed for end-stage renal disease patients undergoing hemodialysis and has been recently cleared by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

The new graft, called Vectra, was developed by Thoratec Laboratories (Pleasanton, CA, USA). Because of the early access feature of Vectra, patients may avoid the placement of an expensive secondary central catheter, says the company. In clinical trials, the graft has demonstrated at least equivalent patency with existing devices and enables patients to start dialysis within the following day or two after graft implant, a major benefit to both patients and hospitals. The proprietary biomaterial used in the graft is called Thoralon, which is also incorporated in the other medical devices developed by Thoratec for vascular graft applications.

Guidant Corp. (Indianapolis, IN, USA), a global supplier of devices to treat cardiovascular disease, has exclusive worldwide marketing and distribution rights to Vectra except in Japan. Thoratec is providing sales training programs for Guidant.



Related Links:
Thoratec Labs
Guidant