The Michigan Daily - michigandaily.com Friday, February 7, 2014 - 3 A view from the heart V IRGINIA LOZANO/DUaily Dr. Himanshu J. Patel performs a new surgery to help repair thoracic aortic aneurysms at the Cardiovascular Center of the University Hospital Wednes- day. curvature of the aorta," Patel said. "They come close to important blood vessels that supply impor- tant parts." To treat aneurysms, surgeons place stent grafts in the diseased area of the blood vessel. Stent grafts are small tubes supported by a metal mesh framework. The graft redirects blood flow so that it can pass the aneurysm without causing further injury to the area. Relieving the pressure on the ves- sel walls lessens the risk of rup- ture. While stent grafts were used to treat aneurysms before the invention of the Gore TAG, Patel said former grafts were designed to treat straight sections of the aorta. Treating aneurysms in the aortic arch with these grafts required a complicated supple- mental procedure. "Usually when it encroaches on the left arm blood vessel, we made a cut in the neck, we did a bypass from the left brain blood vessel to the left arm blood vessel ... and then put the stent graft across that area where the left arm blood vessel comes off," Patel said. Unlike former stent grafts, the Gore TAG has a branch that allows it to fit better into the aorta's arch. Patel said this device was designed and man- ufactured specifically for this procedure. It allows for a much less invasive surgery than was previously possible, requiring only a small groin incision. Although the Gore TAG stent graft is a step forward, it only has one branch. In contrast, the aorta branches into three different blood vessels. Patel said he hopes that there will soon be multiple branch stent grafts to better fit the shape of the aorta. "The hope is that we're going to a multiple branch system to treat more of the arched aorta," Patel said. UMHS is one of only six hospi- tals in the country with access to the Gore TAG. The others are Uni- versity of Pittsburgh, the Mayo Clinic, Dartmouth College, The University of Pennsylvania and Stanford University. The Gore TAG is also undergoing a feasibil- ity study through the FDA. Patel said the device has been success- fully implanted in animals and was determined ready for human use. "What the FDA allows is a small number of patients to be enrolled in the study, to see how this device interacts with human beings," Patel said. "If it looks like it works pretty well, then what they'll do is they'll allow for a bigger trial, to see if it can be approved for use in the U.S." Patel said UMHS was the first hospital to perform the surgery because they had the first will- ing patients. The surgery was a success on both of the first two patients, who were discharged from the hospital within a week of having the surgery. Now that UMHS has shown that the Gore TAG works, it is likely that it will be approved for wider use. "They were very brave people," Patel said. "Because they were brave enough to participate in this trial, we hope that this type of device will succeed and be available to other patients so that we can treat them perhaps in a better way." Weekend roundup: Feb. 7-9 By ALICIA ADAMCZYK Daily StaffReporter Hungry? Grab a Wafel! This Friday, The Wafel Shop is giving away free waffles - you buy the toppings - to celebrate its one year anniversary, from 12 p.m. to 2 p.m. What better way to recov- er from ... studying at the UGLi Thursday night than with free, carb-heavy food? In preparation for the Oscars next month, check out one of the nominated films at the State The- ater this weekend. "Philomena" starring Dame Judi Dench will be playing all weekend. According to Daily film columnist Natalie Gad- bois, Dench's acting is worth the ticket price. "Dench seems to go in a softer direction with 'Philomena,' but Phil is possibly her most badass character yet: a forgiving woman with dignity and grace, one who doesn't pretend to be someone she is not," Gadbois wrote. STUDENT ACTIVITIES Starting at 2:30 p.m., the I Will Campaign will host an event at Amer's on Church Street to dis- cuss the expulsion of Brendan Gibbons, a former Michigan foot- ball player, who the Daily report- ed was "permanently separated" from the University for violating the University's Student Sexual Misconduct Policy. The student group will focus on how the case could have been handled differ- ently and how it affects the cam- pus community. University of Michigan Hillel and Conference on the Holocaust will host Holocaust survivor Dr. Emanuel Tanay at its Shabbat din- ner, starting at 5:40 p.m. If partaking in an event "with the soul of a hackathon and the heart of a business competition" appeals to the entrepreneur in you, look no further than Ann Arbor Startup Weekend, hosted by MPowered. In just 54 hours, students will design a business plan and prototype startup. The event begins at 7 p.m. and lasts until Sunday evening. "I attended my first Startup Weekend last year, and it has cer- tainly shown me that entrepre- neurship is different," LSA junior Evan Flatto, co-director of Start- up Weekend, said. "The energy, passion and atmosphere involved with building a business in just weekend is unique and can't be found anywhere else." Starting at 7 p.m., the Michigan Muslims Student Association will host its annual Michigan Mus- lims Banquet. There will be din- ner, entertainment and a keynote address given by Hind Makki, a leadership associate at the Inter- faith Youth Core, in the Michigan Union Ballroom. Groove will also perform. SPORTS Michigan Women's Swimming will compete against Michigan State University at 5 p.m. at Can- STUDENT ACTIVITIES ham l Men's' Texas. nis Cet Natatorium. Additionally, The Vietnamese Student Asso- Tennis will take on No. 24 ciation will present the Dem Vit at 6 p.m. at the Varsity Ten- Nam Cultural Show 2014: Back to nter. the Future, Tro Lai Tuong Lai, at LATE-NIGHT 7 p.m. at the Lydia Mendelssohn Theater. All proceedswill support FOLLOW US ON TWITTER @MICHIGANDAILY AND LIKE US ON FACEBOOK W W W.FACEBOOK.COM/ MICH IGAN DAILY WE ARE SUPER AWESOME If you're tired of the same old Friday night shenanigans, why not try out the Center for Campus Involvement's ULove UMix from 8 p.m. to 12 a.m. in the Michigan Union. You can hang out with your BFF Jennifer Lawrence dur- ing a screening of "The Hunger Games: Catching Fire," play 3D Twister or just nom on the mid- night sandwich and soup buffet (featuring special guest: choco- late covered strawberries). the Children of Vietnam Charity. I After the showv you're invito o "get your body ready" for the after party at Necto Nightclub. Fashion and charity lovers unite! Shei Magazine, the Univer- sity's student-run fashion publica- tion, is hosting its annual charity fashionshowincollaborationwith Merit, a charity clothing line cre- ated by University alum David Merritt. Expect lots of style, cloth- ing raffles and star treatment. The show begins at 7:30 p.m. in the Michigan League Ballroom. INSTITUTE FOR SOCIAL RESEARCH RESEARCH CENTER FOR GROUP DYNAMICS UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN Winter 2014 Seminar Series: New Science on Race, Discrimination and the Social Lives of Black Americans For the sports fans, Michigan SPORTS Men's Swimming will face MSU at noon in Canham Natatorium. If you missed attending a basket- If the Winter Olympics are mak- ball game this weekend while the ing you yearn for the excitement men's team was on the road, head 2012 summer games, support out to Crisler Center for the Women's senior gymnast Sam Mikulak Basketball, who will take on No. 25 and the rest of the Men's Gym- Purdueat12 p.m. nastics team at 7 p.m. in Cliff Havingalittleback-and-forthwith Keen Arena. that cute guy or gal in your sopho- This week, the Men's Basket- more seminar? Are you looking for ball Team will play No. 17 Iowa the perfect,unique courtingopportu- at 2 p.m. in Iowa City. While you nity?Well,takehimorher over tothe won't be able to cheer with the Varsity Tennis Center - where Love rest of the Maize Rage in Crisler, is always in the air - for the Men's chances are your local bar or Tennis match against Youngstown family room will be nearly as State starting at 5:30 p.m. What's entertaining. moreromanticthanthat? February 03, 2014 Institute for Social Research 3:30-5:00 p.m. 426 Thompson Street Room 6050 Free and open to the public Follow us: @umisr, @rcgdjisr Join the conversation: #RCGDseminar More information: http://bit.ly/RCGD-seminar