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SLF™ - The Technology
Tayside Flow Technologies (TFT) has developed a platform technology that restores the blood outflow pattern through prosthetic grafts to the body's natural state - Spiral Laminar Flow™. A precisely engineered flow inducer imparts a rotational force on the blood flow exiting the graft resulting in SLF™. This remodeling technology is not dependent on a pharmaceutical element therefore there is no pharmacological degradation of function over time. All blood flow through the graft is restored to natural spiral flow.
The technology platform is based on a renewed understanding of blood flow patterns developed as a result of fiber optic angioscopic examination of arteries during infrainguinal reconstructions by Stonebridge and Brophy in 1991. Their findings in concert with observations dating back to the drawings of Leonardo da Vinci, have established the prevalence and benefits of spiral flow in the circulatory system.
Products that promote spiral flow will reduce vascular near-wall kinetic energy and stresses, resulting in reduced endothelial cell damage and blood platelet activation. These products should also promote enhanced patency and less downstream disease progression.
The Natural Blood Flow Pattern
Blood leaves the left ventrical of the heart ascending into the aortic arch with a distinctive single spiral flow pattern1 Spiral Laminar Flow™ (SLF™). This flow pattern has been reported by numerous observers and is propagated within the arterial system by the spiral configuration of the arterial luminal layers2.
The Physiological Benefit of SLF™
SLF™ reduces static wall pressures at the arterial intimal layer providing efficient and effective blood flow throughout the vasculature3. This forward directed rotationally stable spiral flow transports blood through the tapering and branching vascular tree while maintaining cohesion with less energy. Studies have shown where SLF™ is lackng, vessel disease severity and progression are greater.4
Disruption of SLF™ - Turbulent Flow
If SLF™ is disrupted, either through the progression of vascular disease, trauma or use of a non SLF™ inducing prosthetic implant, turbulent blood flow results. Endothelial cells in native vessels experiencing this turbulence trigger flow mediated signals that lead to vascular remodelling. This remodelling, caused by smooth muscle cells, creates neointimal hyperplasia (NIH) leading to restrictions in blood flow over time eventually resulting in vascular complications5.
See Technical Sheet 500; The Concept: Spiral Laminar Flow™ for additional information.
References
1- The heart is not a pump: a refutation of the pressure propulsion premise of heart function: Frontier Perspectives, J Center Frontier Sciences Pa.1995: Vol 5(1). Marinelli R, Fuerst B, Zee H, McGinn A, Marinelli W.
2- Spiral laminar flow in arteries?;The Lancet. 1991 Nov 30;338 (8779): pp1360-1. Stonebridge PA, Brophy CM.
3- Spiral laminar flow in vivo. Clin Sci (Lond). 1996 Jul;91(1):17-21. Stonebridge PA, Hoskins PR, Allan PL, Belch JF.
4- Spiral laminar flow in the abdominal aorta: a predictor of renal impairment deterioration in patients with renal artery stenosis? Nephrol Dial Transplant (2004) 19; 1786-1791, Houston JG, Gandy SJ, Milne W, JBC Dick, JJ Belch, Stonebridge PA
5- Two-dimensional flow quantitative MRI of aortic arch blood flow patterns: Effect of age, sex, and presence of carotid atheromatous disease on prevalence of spiral blood flow. J Magn Reson Imaging. 2003 Aug;18(2):169-74. Houston JG, Gandy SJ, Sheppard DG, Dick JB, Belch JJ, Stonebridge PA.
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