1 Mechanical Properties of Arteries and Arterial Grafts. - Mechanical Properties of Arteries. - PET and PTFE Prostheses. - Biological Grafts. - Elastomeric Prostheses. - Conclusions. - 2 Blood Compatibility in Cardiopulmonary Bypass. - Blood-Material Interactions. - Blood Gas Exchange in Extracorporeal Devices. - Influence of Cardiopulmonary Bypass on Blood Components. - 3 Collagen in Cardiovascular Tissues. - Collagen in Health and Disease. - The Collagen Molecule. - Biosynthesis. - Different Types of Collagen. - Continuum Between Cytoplasm and Extracellular Matrix. - Wound Healing. - Fibrosis. - Fibrotic Response to Implantation of Foreign Materials. - Collagen Degradation. - Crosslinking. - Blood Vessels: Arteries and Veins. - Heart Valves. - Biomechanical Modulation of Connective Tissue Metabolism. - Collagen Platelet Aggregation and Thrombosis. - Collagen as a Biomaterial. - Crosslinking of Collagen by Glutaraldehyde. - Vascular Grafts. - Relationship Between Surface Charge of the Vascular Interface and Thrombosis. - Calcification of Vascular Tissues. - Mechanisms of Calcification. - Calcification of Collagen-Based Cardiovascular Prostheses. - 4 Biostability of Vascular Protheses. - Current Vascular Prostheses. - Biological Response. - Long-Term Failure Modes. - New Materials. - 5 Heart Valve Replacements: Problems and Developments. - Mechanical Valves. - Tissue Valves. - Conclusions. - 6 Cardiac Assist Devices. - Housing. - Diaphragm. - Valves. - Conduits. - Comphance Chamber. Language: English