[Applications of carbon to cardiovascular biotechnology (author's transl)]

Carbon is now being widely used in cardiovascular biotechnology. It has both remarkable physical properties, being strong and resistant to fatigue and wear, and high haemocompatibility owing to the almost complete lack of interaction between carbon surfaces and blood proteins. At present, carbon is predominantly used in synthetic heart valves, but its use could be soon extended to vascular prostheses or even to extracorporeal circulation.