Infection resistant surface for ventricular assist device (VAD) transcutaneous dr

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Infection is a common and frequently very serious complication associated with medical implants. Man-made materials, including those used to fabricate ventricular assist devices (VADs), compromise the body's ability tofight infection in tw ways. First, by breaching skin with transcutaneous cannulae and drivelines, and second, by eliciting a foreign body reaction which results in scarring near the implant surface that creates an environment where bacteria can thrive outside the reach of the body's immune system. Currently available infection resistant materials typically rely on the release of antimicrobial substances. Though effective over the short-term, the released drugs can compromise normal healing and exacerbate the problem of isolating the implant surface from the body's immune defenses. Ension proposes development of an infection resistant surface designed to promote normal healing for application to the transcutaneous drivelines of ventricular assist devices. The