Glossary A - C

A
adhesion    abnormal attachment between surfaces (e.g. cells, tissue)
aggregation of cells    accumulation of cells into a cluster
aliphatic    having carbon atoms linked in open chains
anticoagulant    a substance that prevents the clotting of blood
antithrombin    an anticoagulant that inhibits or prevents the effects of thrombin
antithrombogenic surface    surface that counteracts blood coagulation
artery    any of the tubular branching muscular- and elastic-walled vessels that carry blood from the heart through the body


B
ß-cell    insulin producing cell. Also called B-cell
beta-cell   see ß-cell 
biocompatible    the quality of not causing damage to biological tissue
biomaterial    a natural or synthetic material (as a polymer or metal) that is suitable for introduction into living tissue especially as part of a medical device (as an artificial heart valve or joint)
blood compatibility    the quality of not causing blood to transform into an insoluble gel (clot)


C
catheter    flexible tube inserted into the body for withdrawing or injecting fluids for diagnostic or therapy purposes
CHC    Corline Heparin Conjugate
CHS    Corline Heparin Surface
clean room    a room that is virtually free of contaminants, such as dust and bacteria, used in laboratory work and production of for example medical devices and electronic parts
clot    soft mass of blood which has coagulated
cluster    group of small items which cling together
coagulation    transformation of blood into an insoluble gel
coagulation cascade    a series of enzymes ending in the formation of thrombin that converts soluble fibrinogen to insoluble fibrin
complement system    an immunological defence system in blood that recognizes non-self
confocal microscopy    a research tool to visualize three-dimensional structures
conjugate    a chemical compound that has been formed by the joining of two or more compounds
contact activation    the starting point of the coagulation cascade
coronary    related to the heart