A new device for the measurement of the arterial compliance using implantable sensors. Description and first experimental application.

To determine the compliance of experimental arterial grafts and its chronic adaptation after implantation, a new device for measurements was developed which is combined with implantable sensors. The system is based on the physical induction phenomenon. Each sensor comprises two small coils of copper wire which are sutured opposite to each other to the arterial vessel. Up to 3 sensors are adapted to one electrical connector which can be covered subcutaneously. The device is able to read pulsatile diameter excursions of arterial vessels down to 0.02 mm. It was applied first to evaluate the elastic properties of a 4-mm dialdehyde-starch-preserved bovine internal mammary artery implanted in the canine femoral artery position. For comparison an ePTFE graft was used. At implantation the compliance of the biograft was calculated to be 0.028 +/- 0.009% mm Hg-1, which was half of the compliance of the native femoral artery (0.06 +/- 0.0025% mm Hg-1), but superior if compared to the PTFE (0.008 +/- 0.005% mm Hg-1). Within 6 months the compliance of the femoral artery decreased to 0.039 +/- 0.013% mm Hg-1, which was well matched now to the compliance of the biograft (0.027 +/- 0.005% mm Hg-1).