Vascular Glue Seals Leaky Blood Vessels

A surgical glue inspired by algae reduces blood loss by creating a mechanical seal during surgical reconstruction of large blood vessels, such as the carotid, femoral, brachial, and iliac arteries.

Seal-V is an adhesive based on alginate—a carbohydrate made by algae—which mimics the way algae adhere to rocks under water, binding strongly even in a wet environment, resolving the limitations of both protein-based and synthetic sealants. The novel combination of an alginate pre-gel and a curing mesh allow surgeons absolute control of vascular sealing due to the fact that spreading is completely separated from the curing. Upon application of the hardening mesh, Seal-V cures within one minute, reducing unintentional dispersion and obviating difficult cleanup.


The sophisticated sealant is protein-free, strong, safe, biocompatible, and bioresorbable, and is intended to reinforce sutures but not replace them. The Seal-V applicator is ready for use, and does not require thawing, warming, or premixing prior to use. The viscous texture allows easy application and prevents the product from spreading on the surrounding tissue, while the conspicuous blue color facilitates visualization precise control of the curing process. Seal-V is a product of Sealantis (Haifa, Israel), and has received the European community CE marking of approval.

“The surgeon usually connects a synthetic vessel to a native vessel as part of a bypass procedure, and usually there is bleeding from the suture line. What we are trying to do is control the bleeding from the suture line,” said Tehilla Bar Yehuda, marketing manager for Sealantis, in an interview with Israel 21c. “And why is this a challenge? Vascular surgery patients are administered with blood thinners, so any bleeding during the surgery is very hard to stop.”

“There is always a place for another product, especially when we have so much trouble and problems with the current glues in place,” said Zeev Loberman, MD, head of the vascular surgery department in Bnai Zion Medical Center (Haifa, Israel). “It could be used for all kinds of operations. Any kind of surgery you could imagine: brain, lung, and general orthopedic surgery. In any place where you are getting in touch with bleeding that might interfere with the healing of a wound or where you are prolonging an operation and putting a burden on the patient.”

Related Links:
Sealantis
Bnai Zion Medical Center