High density microwall expanded polytetrafluoroethylene
First Claim
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1. A method for producing a high density microwall (HDM) expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (ePTFE) structure, comprising the steps of:
- providing an ePTFE tube having a first inner diameter;
radially expanding said ePTFE tube to form a radially expanded tube having a second inner diameter greater than said first inner diameter;
calendering said radially expanded tube while maintaining said second inner diameter substantially constant to form a calendered tube; and
heating said calendered tube above the crystalline melt-point for polytetrafluoroethylene while maintaining said second inner diameter substantially constant to form said HDM ePTFE structure.
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Abstract
A high density microwall ePTFE structure and a method for making, involving the manipulation of a standard extruded ePTFE graft. The final product has the desired characteristics of high density, reduced wall-thickness, above-average radial strength and enhanced suture retention.
39 Citations
15 Claims
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1. A method for producing a high density microwall (HDM) expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (ePTFE) structure, comprising the steps of:
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providing an ePTFE tube having a first inner diameter;
radially expanding said ePTFE tube to form a radially expanded tube having a second inner diameter greater than said first inner diameter;
calendering said radially expanded tube while maintaining said second inner diameter substantially constant to form a calendered tube; and
heating said calendered tube above the crystalline melt-point for polytetrafluoroethylene while maintaining said second inner diameter substantially constant to form said HDM ePTFE structure. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A method for producing a high density microwall (HDM) expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (ePTFE) structure, comprising the steps of:
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providing a non-radially expanded ePTFE tube having a first inner diameter;
calendering said ePTFE tube while maintaining said first inner diameter substantially constant to form a calendered tube; and
heating said calendered tube above the crystalline melt-point for polytetrafluoroethylene while maintaining said first inner diameter substantially constant to form said HDM ePTFE structure. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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Specification