Elastic modulus of prepared canine jejunum, a new vascular graft material

The submucosal connective tissue of the jejunum has been shown to be suitable for use as a vascular graft in preliminary dog studies. To partially characterize the mechanical properties of this new graft material, longitudinal stress (σ)-strain (ε)-data were obtained on 13 specimens of canine jejunum, stripped of its mucosal and external smooth-muscle layers. The ratio of stress to strain is the modulus of elasticity (E). It was found that the stress σ-strain ε-data fitted the expression γ=K∈^α very well. For a typical specimen γ=2.69×10⁶∈^2.33. The modulus of elasticity (E=γ^1-1/αK^1/α) was found to increase with increasing stress, ranging from about 2,000 to 9,000 mmHg. For the average specimen E=573 γ^0.57, where σ is in mmHg, (1 mmHg=133.3 Pascals).