Clinical and Engineering Considerations for the Design of Indwelling Vascular Access Devices - Materials and Product Development Overview

As treatment methods in the clinical setting move toward less invasive procedures, the need jor materials that possess high strength, greater maneuverability, better vascular and tissue inteface, and better long-term (>30 days) implantation capabilities is in greater demand. Historically, vascular access was deemed a requirementjor short-term application such as for the bolus administration of drugs or aspiration qf blood for various diagnoses, each time requiring a separate cannulation of the vein or artery. As diagnostic techniques have become more sophisticated and the technology of drug design and infusion has advanced, the needfor vascular access devices with good chemical resistance, long-term implantation, and high biocompatibiliry characteristics have become increasingly important to the patient, clinician, and biomedical designer.