A Shape Memory Polymer Dialysis Needle Adapter for the Reduction of Hemodynamic Stress Within Arteriovenous Grafts

A deployable, shape memory polymer adapter is investigated for reducing the hemodynamic stress caused by dialysis needle flow impingement within an arteriovenous graft. Computational fluid dynamics simulations of dialysis sessions with and without the adapter demonstrate that the adapter provides a significant decrease in the wall shear stress. Preliminary in vitro flow visualization measurements are made within a graft model following delivery and actuation of a prototype shape memory polymer adapter. Both the simulations and the qualitative flow visualization measurements demonstrate that the adapter reduces the severity of the dialysis needle flow impingement on the vascular access graft.