Vascular grafts, which either can be biological or synthetic, require manufacturing precision due to their small size. Biomedical Structures (BMS) has developed newweaving equipment for very fine polyester, UHMWPE (ultra-high-molecular-weight polyethylene) and other fibers for the production of synthetic grafts.
 
The advantage of finely woven fabrics is that they are stronger and more flexible with less stretch, making them better suited for more sensitive implant areas such as those near the heart. BMS creates straight and bifurcated tubes for woven grafts that support endovascular stent systems used around abdominal aneurysm rupture sites. The tubes also are used for grafts in percutaneous coronary intervention stent procedures and throughout the extremities. The tapered tubes are more suited to the human anatomy, allowing designers to closely mimic a functional shape, according to the company.
 
BMS expects strong sales from its newest product capabilities due to a projected increase in the sale of stent grafts. Vascular grafts usually are needed to supplement and support stent grafts. According to Global Data’s 2011 market snapshot report, the peripheral vascular device market is expected to grow to more than $7.1 billion by 2018, and will be fueled in part by the sale of stent grafts. Stent grafts alone, including abdominal aortic aneurysm and thoracic aortic aneurysm stent grafts, are expected to double in sales.
 
Based in Warwick, R.I, BMS specializes in knitting, braiding, weaving, nonwovens, and composites, and utilizes biocompatible absorbable and non-absorbable materials in devices, drug delivery and surgical systems for orthopedic, cardiovascular, bariatric, cosmetic and veterinary medicine applications.