ProGraft: The Proactive Solution to a Long-Lasting Hemodialysis Graft скачать в хорошем качестве

ProGraft: The Proactive Solution to a Long-Lasting Hemodialysis Graft

Team members: Rebecca Foley, Moriah Garcia, Trace Maurer, Daniel Shyu Nearly 500,000 Americans currently suffer from end stage renal disease and require dialysis to supplement or replace their kidney functionality. Currently, 19% of dialysis users have an implanted arteriovenous graft to transfer blood from the body. However, annual maintenance costs for grafts are about $5,000 per patient due a high two-year failure rate of 70%, creating nearly a $3 billion industry. These high failure rates are due to stenosis and clot formation that prevent the necessary blood flow, as well as trauma from repeated needle puncturing for each treatment. As a result, there is a clear need to update the current design to extend the lifespan of dialysis grafts by removing cell growth from the walls and preventing the tearing of the graft material. The proposed solution will physically remove the buildup of cells along the wall inside the graft design and prevent any substantial accumulation over time. Preliminary results show cell removal based on previous studies. Furthermore, the device has successfully withstood 650 treatments, which simulates the number of punctures over three years. Given its substantial improvement from existing vascular access methods in dialysis, this device should lead to an increased number of patients utilizing grafts. This novel design addresses the major existing issues with arteriovenous grafts, eliminates the need for additional procedures, and improves both longevity and effectiveness for patients requiring hemodialysis.