ePTFE‐based biomedical devices: An overview of surgical efficiency

Abstract

Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) is a ubiquitous material used for implants and medical devices in general because of its high biocompatibility and inertness: blood vessel, heart, table jawbone, nose, eyes, or abdominal wall can benefit from its properties in case of disease or injury. Its expanded version, ePTFE is an improved version of PTFE with better mechanical properties, which extends its medical applications. A material as frequently used as ePTFE with these exceptional properties deserves a review of its main uses, developments, and possibility of improvements. In this systematic review, we examined clinical trials related to ePTFE‐based medical devices from the literature. Then, we excluded all trials using ePTFE as a control to test other devices. ePTFE‐coated stents, hemodialysis and bypass grafts, guided bone and tissue regeneration membranes, hernia and heart repair and other devices are reviewed. The rates of success using these devices and their efficiency compared to other materials used for the same purposes are reported. ePTFE appears to be more or just as efficient compared to them. Some success rates remain low, suggesting the need of improvement ePTFE for medical applications.

In vitro and in vivo assessment of a novel ultra-flexible ventriculoamniotic shunt for treating fetal hydrocephalus

“…Expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (ePTFE) exhibits unique material properties including excellent biocompatibility, inertness, chemical resistance, low coefficient of friction, and high specific strength. 23 Therefore, this polymer has been widely used in various medical devices and implantable applications such as stent grafts, patch, scaffold, and so on. 24 An ePTFE memberane (ZEUS, Inc., Orangeburg, SC, thickness of 0.005 ″ ) was used in a one-way valve and covering membrane of the anchor in this study utilizing the ideal properties.…”

Recycling and the end of life assessment of fluoropolymers: recent developments, challenges and future trends

“…PTFE has been tested extensively in the USA and European Union to assess its commercial applications for food contact, global medical device regulations and surgery. 24–28…”

Polymeric Heart Valves Will Displace Mechanical and Tissue Heart Valves: A New Era for the Medical Devices

“…The chemical structure of PTFE, formed by strong carbon–carbon bonds and stable carbon–fluorine bonds ( Figure 2 ), exhibits high bio-inertia and stability and a low coefficient of friction and surface tension [ 34 ]. Due to these unique properties, PTFE is used in various fields of medicine, including cardiovascular surgery [ 35 ]. PTFE vascular grafts are well-known and widely used medical devices, but PTFE was originally used to manufacture the leaflets for the first prosthetic heart valve.…”

“…Its discovery led to a new direction in the medical device market [ 37 ]. Improved mechanical properties of ePTFE allowed for widening its application and resuming the development of elastic polymeric heart valves [ 35 ]. In spite of the first preclinical trials reporting high rates of calcification [ 38 ], ePTFE was successfully used for manufacturing valved conduits for pulmonary valve replacements in pediatric patients undergoing the Ross procedure in Japan [ 39 ].…”