CryoLife Inc believes that it is possible to use animal tissues to create arteriovenous (A-V) access grafts for haemodialysis applications, using its own patented SynerGraft technology.

The technology involves removing antigens from human and animal tissues leaving a collagen matrix that

The company carried out experiments on dogs using bovine tissues processed with the SynerGraft tissue engineering technology and implanted as A-V access grafts. After six months, the animal implants showed no infection but had improved sealing ability compared with synthetic grafts, reported CryoLife.

The company presented its findings to the 2001 Joint Annual Meeting of The Society for Vascular Surgery and The American Association for Vascular Surgery, held in June in Baltimore, Maryland, USA.

In 2000 CryoLife began processing human vascular grafts with its technology. The CryoVein SG can re-model itself in vivo. It is useful for patients who have reacted negatively to synthetic or tissue access grafts and who need replacement grafts that reduce the risk of infection and are reliable in the long-term. The company's porcine tissue-engineered replacement heart valves, using the SynerGraft technology, have won the CE Mark and are for sale in the EU.

(See also the Review of aortic valve replacement surgery compares survival rates of mechanical valves, aortic allografts and pulmonary autografts in Research Alert section below.

For further information, contact: Roy Vogeltanz, Vice-president, Corporate Communications, CryoLife Inc, 1655 Roberts Boulevard NW, Kennesaw, GA 30144, USA; tel: +1-770-419-3355; fax: +1-770-426-031; Internet address: www.cryolife.com