COORDINATING COMMITTEE MEMORANDUM FROM THE UNITED STATES DELEGATION CONCERNING EXPORT TO POLAND OF POLYTETRAFLUOROETHYLENE ARTERIAL AND BIFURCATION GRAFTS (AE-6)

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP62-00647A000100180079-7
• Release Decision: RIFPUB
• Original Classification: C
• Document Page Count: 1
• Document Creation Date: November 9, 2016
• Document Release Date: April 16, 1999
• Sequence Number: 79
• Publication Date: May 11, 1959
• Content Type: MEMO

Approved For Release 1999/09/16 : CIA-RDP62-006000100180079-7
CONFIDENTIAL
0000M Doc. No. 3521
Date: May 11, 1959
COORDINATING COMMITTEE
MENI JRANDUM FROM THE UNITED STATES DELEGATION
Concerning
EXPORT TO POLAND OF POLYTETRAFLUOROETHYLENE ARTERIAL AND
BIFURCATION GRAFTS (AE-6)
The United States requests approval for the export to Poland.,
under the special Polish policy, of 40 arterial and bifurcation grafts
made wholly of polytetrafluoroethylene (commercially known as Teflon)
6.
and valued at $1,071, Polytetrafluoroethylene is embargoed by AE Item These grafts are small tubes used to replace defective arteries
and veins. They are employed in such specialized surgery as heart
operations with annual consumption at a single U.S. hospital doing
this surgery varying from 50 to 200 per year.
The 40 grafts weigh less than one pound and in unfabricated form
would have a value of loss than 10. The conversion of the tetrafluoro-
ethylene to other purposes would, therefore,, be unlikely both because
of the small quantity involved and because of the high cost of the grafts.
In view of the reasonableness of the quantity compardd to U.S.
medical requirements., the impracticability of diverting the raw material
to other uses., and the humanitarian application of the material., the
United States believes that these 40 grafts are reasonable and necessary
to the Polish civilian economy.
CONFIDENTIAL
Approved For Release 1999/09/16 : CIA-RDP62-00647A000100180079-7