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In Vitro Comparison of Initial Lumen Diameter on Closure Rates of Ameroid Ring Constrictors

CSEF · 2026 Medicine & Physiology (Senior Division)

Levi Mehl

Overview

Liver shunts can be a life-threatening disease in dogs and cats; these are abnormal blood vessels that bring blood returning from the intestines into systemic circulation, bypassing the liver. Treatment aims to gradually close the shunt and slowly redirect blood back to the liver thereby reducing postoperative complications. Ameroid ring constrictors (ARC) are medical devices that swell when immersed in fluid leading to gradual reduction in lumen size and are used to achieve vessel occlusion. Currently, only larger sized ARCs have been studied (≥ 3.5mm) and results suggest that the smaller of these sizes close to a greater extent than the larger ones. Smaller rings (2.5 and 3.0 mm) would be ideal for smaller shunt vessels but understanding their closure dynamics would be important before clinical use. My study evaluated the rate and closure dynamics of two smaller ARC sizes and compared them to two of the most commonly used larger sizes (3.5 and 5.0 mm). I incubated 24 rings (6 of each size) and immersed them in canine plasma at 37 C for 28 days. I photographed the rings at regular intervals and used a software program to measure the inner lumen diameter. Analysis of the results found that the smaller ring sizes closed faster and more completely than larger ring sizes. On evaluation of these results, while more complete closure is advantageous it could increase the risk of postoperative complications in clinical patients. Future in vitro and clinical studies are needed to answer these questions.

Competition history

  • CSEF 2026 Medicine & Physiology (Senior Division) · Entry S-15-09

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