Arterio-venous shunt with percutaneous leads in calves for long-term in vivo testing of blood-contact materials.

In six calves an extracorporeal arteriovenous shunt in combination with a successful type of percutaneous lead has been implanted. Flow chambers with various test materials can be inserted. Preliminary results show that this shunt can be used for long term tests for evaluation of blood contact material and studies about thrombus formation in an ex vivo setting as well as for permanent blood access for the purpose of various measurements, drug application and for hemodialysis.