Is Gortex the same material they use for waterproof tents and things like that?
Dr. Vincent: It is, or at least it is the same chemical structure. They make it many different ways. Some is made for commercial use on outside garments and outdoor wear and other ePTFE fabrics have been specifically designed for use in heart and vascular devices. And it works like a normal cloth? Dr. Vincent: Yes. When the surgeons operate to close a hole in the heart, they will either use a direct suture technique (no material involved) or some synthetic material, such as Dacron or Gortex or natural material such as pericardium, the sac around the heart. Instead of using stitches to keep the patch in place, we have a metal framework that sits around both sides of the defect to keep the device in place. What’s so exciting about this procedure? Dr. Vincent: For anybody who has had the procedure, it’s really awesome to be able to come in on the day of the procedure, have it done and go home either that day or the next day without any surgery or stitches. It’s a tremendous advance that w
