Leg bypass graft that mimics natural artery stretch
Lower Extremity Bypass Graft With Physiologic Longitudinal Pre-Stretch
['FUNDING_OTHER'] · UNIVERSITY OF NEBRASKA OMAHA · NIH-11333254
This project makes and tests new leg bypass grafts that mimic the natural longitudinal stretch of thigh arteries to help people with blocked leg arteries.
Quick facts
| Phase | ['FUNDING_OTHER'] |
|---|---|
| Study type | Nih_funding |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | UNIVERSITY OF NEBRASKA OMAHA (nih funded) |
| Locations | 1 site (OMAHA, UNITED STATES) |
| Trial ID | NIH-11333254 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this research studies
If you have peripheral artery disease and may need a leg bypass, this team is building grafts that reproduce the femoropopliteal artery's natural pre-stretch to reduce bending and kinking. They manufacture tunable nanofibrillar elastomer fabrics designed to match the artery's nonlinear stiffness and longitudinal tension. The grafts will undergo bench mechanical testing and animal studies with imaging and biomechanical measures to compare bending, flow, and stress to current prosthetic grafts. Positive preclinical results would support moving the design toward surgical use and future human trials.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People with peripheral artery disease (PAD) who need infrainguinal or femoropopliteal bypass surgery—especially when grafts must cross the knee—would be the eventual candidates for this approach.
Not a fit: Patients without PAD, those treated only with endovascular procedures, or those not eligible for surgical bypass are unlikely to benefit directly from this work in the near term.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, these grafts could lower the rate of bending-related graft failure and improve long-term blood flow and limb outcomes after leg bypass surgery.
How similar studies have performed: This specific approach of engineering longitudinal pre-stretch into grafts is relatively novel, though prior work matching graft compliance to native arteries has shown promise in preclinical studies.
Where this research is happening
OMAHA, UNITED STATES
- UNIVERSITY OF NEBRASKA OMAHA — OMAHA, UNITED STATES (ACTIVE)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: MALECKIS, KASPARS — UNIVERSITY OF NEBRASKA OMAHA
- Study coordinator: MALECKIS, KASPARS
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.