‘Guinea pigs’: experimental implants done despite no approval for human use

Inquiry finds artificial windpipe, arterial graft and synthetic tear duct made by scientists at University College London were used outside of UK

Experimental implants that should only have been used in laboratory or animal tests were sent abroad and used on patients who were treated like human guinea pigs, an inquiry at one of Britain's leading universities has found.

An artificial windpipe, an arterial graft and a synthetic tear duct manufactured by scientists at University College London were used in operations despite not being approved for use in humans, according to the inquiry's report.