Licensing Opportunity from the University of Rhode Island

Nanofibrous Biocomposite Prosthetic Vascular Graft Description of Invention: The present invention provides a bioactive, small-diameter (typically less than 6 mm in internal diameter) vascular graft prosthesis, and is a textile conduit preferably manufactured using a novel electrospinning perfusion methodology. One preferred embodiment is a nanofibrous biocomposite textile conduit which comprises a prepared liquid admixture of polyester (Dacron), a biodurable implantable synthetic polymer, and Type IV collagen, an extracellular matrix protein. This prepared admixture and blending of diverse fibrous matter is utilized in a novel electrospinning perfusion process to form a small- diameter (less than 6 mm) fabricated textile conduit, a discrete article of manufacture, which then serves as an antecedent tangible workpiece for a subsequently-made prosthetic vascular graft construct.

Potential Areas of Application: 1) The present invention is concerned generally with vascular prostheses; and is particularly directed to the manufacture and use in-vivo of a nanofibrous vascular prosthesis (especially having channels less than 6 mm internal diameter size) that is capable of emulating the biological and physical properties of the native blood vessel wall.

Main Advantages of Invention: 1) A first aspect provides a fabricated textile conduit useful as a tangible workpiece for the manufacture of a prosthetic vascular graft construct 2) A second aspect of the present invention is a prosthetic vascular graft construct useful as a synthetic blood vessel in-vivo 3) A third aspect includes a method for making a fabricated textile conduit useful as an antecedent workpiece for the manufacture of a prosthetic vascular graft construct

Lead Inventor: Matthew Phaneuf et al

Status: US patent application 11/211,935 filed August 25, 2005 issued as US 7,413,575 on August 19, 2008 Nanofibrous Biocomposite USPTO Website Link

Publications (with links):

Category: Biological, Pharmaceutical, Life Sciences

Licensing Status: Available for licensing Reference #:04-0820

Please contact David R. Sadowski or Raymond Walsh - Division of Research & Economic Development, University of Rhode Island, 75 Lower College Rd. Suite 001, Kingston, RI 02881; 401-874-4807 or Fax 401-874-7832 http://www.uri.edu/research/tro/executive/sadowski.html Rev. 01-14-10