Scientists grow blood vessels in lab

London: Human blood vessels have been grown in the laboratory in a breakthrough that could revolutionise heart bypass surgery.

The veins take just a few weeks to produce from skin cells removed from the hand.

As well as bypass operations, the tubes could also be used to help kidney patients on dialysis and babies with defective heart valves.

The US scientists behind the new technology say they can manufacture blood vessels in two months by weaving them on a miniature ‘loom' in the lab.

Previous attempts to produce man-made veins have either relied on synthetic materials or produced veins that are not strong enough.

During heart bypass surgery, a vein from another part of the body is used to divert blood around narrowed or clogged blood vessels.

But many of the 26,000 Britons in need of this delicate operation each year do not have any healthy blood vessels suitable for grafting.

Artificial versions are available, but are prone to infection.

The latest technique, unveiled at the Experimental Biology conference in San Diego, should cut the odds of infection.

The veins are the brainchild of researchers at US firm Cytograft Tissue Engineering. The process starts with a sample of skin cells taken from the back of the hand.

The technology is still at a relatively early stage and it is expected that it will be five to ten years before the blood vessels are suitable for widespread use. The process isn't cheap, with each vein expected to cost several thousand pounds.