HEMOCOMPATIBLE BIOMATERIALS FOR CARDIOVAS CULAR-SURGERY

Hemocompatible biomaterials, i.e. materials to be used in a biological environment, are of various origins (biological, synthetic). The grea t variety of physical and chemical characteristics has allowed design of various prosthesis and artificial organs. Use of biomaterials and a rtificial organs has made possible the development of substitutive the rapies, a growing componound of medical care. None of the biomaterials presently used is ideal. Every of them is responsible for a local and general reaction : foreign body reaction, coagulation, whole body inf lammatory response. For years, these reactions have been poorly unders tood and development was of a very empirical nature. Progress in cellu lar and molecular biology permits today a better understanding of the mechanisms involved in these reactions. Use of biomaterials is facing to day a difficult problem : liability concerns threaten further devel opments and leads to market withdrawal of major basic materials.