Thromboresistance of glass after glow discharge treatment in argon

Abstract

Glow discharge treated (GDT) inorganic materials are sterile and free of all organic contaminants. Such materials implanted in the canine inferior vena cava often demonstrate significant thromboresistance. Standard Pyrex glass tubing was GDT in argon to provide a surface free energy above 70 dynes/cm, slight surface negativity, and other surface‐physical modifications of its interface. Chromic acid cleaned lengths of the same tubing, and short segments whose edges were not fire‐polished were used as controls. Upon canine implantation, the in vivo results were similar in independent surgical laboratories. The glass was implanted as 1.4 cm long rings or as 5 cm long tubes in separate medical centers according to different protocols. GDT specimens remained patent; all controls accumulated thrombi. A remarkably pure, low critical surface tension, labile protein coating covered all cylindrical lumens after 2 hr in vivo. This coating diminished within 2 weeks and was essentially absent after 480 days, even though scanning EM showed evidence of a micron thick luminal film, probably eroding glass. No emboli were found in the implant animal's kidney or lungs at any stage.