Thoratec's Polyurethane Artificial Vessel is used as a dialysis shunt and received approval from pharmaceutical affairs in May of 1997. Previously, e-PTFE was the only material employed for dialysis-use in the clinical setting, and this artificial vessel that uses polyurethane was the first of its kind approved in Japan. Thoratec's product overcomes the disadvantages of artificial vessels that use e-PTFE, such as the inability to perform dialysis soon after the operation and poor stypticity to become an artificial vein graft better suited for dialysis. Due to increases in aging dialysis patients and those with diabetic nephropathy, the need for vein grafts is growing more and more. With these circumstances in mind, it is anticipated that this vein graft will improve the quality of life for dialysis patients.