Comparison of catheter thrombogenicity in a modified chandler loop model using goat blood

Thrombogenicity testing is a key component in the development of medical devices intended for contact with blood. The Chandler loop system has previously been used as an in vitro thrombogenicity testing method. In this study, we used a modified version of the Chandler loop model to evaluate its capacity to detect differential thrombogenic potential of different catheter materials using goat blood. We also sought to determine the optimal experimental conditions for detecting the thrombogenicity of catheter material. Using the Chandler loop system with goat blood we demonstrated that silicone catheters had a stronger thrombogenicity as compared to polyurethane catheters as evidenced by significantly larger thrombi (p < 0.001) and higher infusion pressures (p < 0.05). This is consistent with many, but not all, previous in vitro and in vivo studies comparing polyurethane to silicone catheters. The use of this modified Chandler loop system with goat blood may provide an additional in vitro testing platform for thrombogenicity testing of catheters. © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res Part A: 106A: 3143-3151, 2018.