ARTIFICIAL blood vessel manufacturer Sulzer Vascutek is preparing to launch a product which it hopes will further boost its sales in the area of repairing diseased and damaged arteries.

The Inchinnan operation, which is part of the Swiss-based Sulzer Medica group, is developing a device for the treatment of aneurysms in the main artery carrying blood to lower parts of the body. Invented by Munich surgeon Lutz Lauterjung, the ''Anaconda'' vascular graft poses less threat of complications to patients, but is also easier to use because of its smaller size.

An aneurysm forms when artery walls become thin and then balloon out from the pressure of blood pumping through. The enlarged cavity then fills with thrombotic material which could be dangerous if dislodged and allowed to move to other parts

of the body.

As about 75% of people who suffer from a burst aneurysm die, surgeons are keen to repair these ballooning arteries once they reach a certain size. However, the two repair devices available are about eight millimetres wide at

the time of introduction and could thus potentially dislodge the thrombotic material.

Although Sulzer Vascutek's new vascular graft does not eliminate this problem, it does minimise possible complications because of its smaller size. The device also comes in three pieces, making it easier to manipulate.

Managing director Roshan Maini said the company was testing the Anaconda as part of efforts to gain the CE regulatory mark of approval. Clinical implants of the device will begin early next year, and, if all goes well, sales will begin after that phase of testing is completed.

Maini said the development of the new vascular graft was evidence of Sulzer Medica's support for the Renfrewshire subsidiary. Sales and employment have soared since the Swiss took over in 1990, with staffing levels up from 50 to 150 and turnover rising from around #3m to more than #20m.

This performance has been

sustained despite the strengthening of the pound. Sulzer Vascutek exports about 90% of its goods to more than 60 countries, with its main markets in Europe, Japan and the US.

The operation was originally established in 1979 as a new ventures division of textiles company Coats Paton. Maini, a bio-engineer from ICI Corporate Labs, was drafted in to head up the business.

With much of Coats' activities located abroad, the UK company hoped to build up a high-margin profit base at home. Sulzer Vascutek developed its own range of medium-sized arterial grafts, which are either knitted or woven from polyester fibre. The big break came when the company developed its own coating, called Fluropassiv, which seals the artificial artery. In a market formerly dominated by two major US firms, Sulzer Vascutek now has a 9% share in the US and a dominant 38% throughout the rest of the world.

The company was moved to its current location in 1986, but in 1990, what was by then known as Coats-Viyella was looking to dispose of all non-core businesses. Goldman Sachs was hired to put the Inchinnan facility up for auction, and Sulzer Medica came in with the best offer.

With the backing of its parent company, Sulzer Vascutek is now working to build up its US distribution network. This is predominantly an in-house effort.

Maini said Sulzer Vascutek originally intended to expand its US business by purchasing an American company called Impra, but that plan was scuppered when another rival pipped the business 18 months ago.