Ultrasonic crimping of a varied diameter vascular graft

• US 20050228489A1
• Filed: 04/12/2004
• Published: 10/13/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 04/12/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Maquet Cardiovascular LLC (Getinge AB)
• Original Assignee: Scimed Life Systems Incorporated (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Inventors: Kujawski, Dennis
• Granted Patent: US 7,309,461 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 623/1.280
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/06 Blood vessels
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/2412 with soft flexible valve members, e.g. tissue valves shaped like natural valves check valves with flexible valve members in general F16K15/14
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2240/001 Designing or manufacturing processes
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2250/0039 differing in diameter
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 2791/008 Using vibrations during moulding
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 35/0261 using ultrasonic or sonic vibrations
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 53/30 of tubes by blow-moulding B29C49/00
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 53/82 Cores or mandrels
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 67/0014 for shaping tubes or blown tubular films
• CPC Class Codes: B29K 2313/00 Use of textile products or fabrics as reinforcement B29K2105/06 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B29L 2023/183 partially

Abstract

A method of crimping a varied diameter graft is includes the steps of (i) providing a flat-woven tubular graft having an enlarged woven bulbous portion disposed between flat-woven tubular ends, wherein the flat-woven diameter of the bulbous section is greater than the flat woven diameters of the tubular ends; (ii) providing a mandrel shaped and sized to the woven bulbous section and having a curved crimping surface; and (iii) positioning the curved crimping surface within the bulbous woven section so that the bulbous woven section contours to the curved crimping surface.

Claims

1. A method of crimping a varied diameter graft comprising:

(a) providing a flat-woven tubular graft having an enlarged woven bulbous portion disposed between flat-woven tubular ends, wherein the flat-woven diameter of said bulbous section is greater than the flat woven diameters of said tubular ends;

(b) providing a mandrel shaped and sized to said woven bulbous section and having a curved crimping surface; and

(c) positioning said curved crimping surface within said bulbous woven section so that the bulbous woven section contours to said curved crimping surface.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising heating said bulbous woven portion to set the shape of said bulbous woven portion.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising applying heat and pressure to said bulbous woven portion to set the shape of said bulbous woven portion.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein said heating is caused by ultrasonic action.

5. The method of claim 2, wherein said heating is caused by steam.

6. The method of claim 1, further including the steps of

(d) providing a horn having a crimped surface mateable to said crimped surface of said mandrel;

(e) aligning said crimping surfaces of said horn over said bulbous woven section;

(f) securing said woven section between said crimping surfaces of said horn and said mandrel; and

(g) causing said woven portion to heat by ultrasonic action to heat set crimps thereat.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising rotating said graft around said mandrel and repeating steps and (e) through (g) until the graft is circumferentially crimped.

8. The method of claim 2, further including the steps of

providing a rotatable horn having a crimped surface mateable to said crimped surface of said rotatable mandrel made to rotate;

aligning said crimping surfaces of said rotatable horn over said bulbous woven section;

securing said woven section between said crimping surfaces of said rotatable horn and said rotatable rotateable mandrel; and

causing said woven portion to heat by ultrasonic action to heat set crimps thereat.

9. A method of crimping a varied diameter graft comprising:

providing a flat-woven tubular graft having an enlarged woven bulbous portion disposed between flat-woven tubular ends, wherein the flat-woven diameter of said bulbous section is greater than the flat woven diameters of said tubular ends;

providing a tubular cylindrical mandrel having a diameter such that its exterior surface is slidable engageable within said woven tubular ends;

providing a bulbously shaped mandrel donut, said donut being slidable over said cylindrical mandrel, said donut having a crimped exterior surface;

aligning said donut within said bulbous woven section of said graft;

sliding said cylindrical mandrel through said donut;

crimping said graft over said cylindrical mandrel and bulbous donut; and

removing said cylindrical mandrel and said bulbous donut from said graft.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein said removing step further comprises:

slidingly removing said cylindrical mandrel from said graft and said bulbous donut; and

removing said donut from said graft.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein said tubular mandrel comprises a crimping surface and wherein said flat-woven tubular ends are crimped over said crimping surface of said mandrel.

12. The method of claim 9, wherein the removing step further comprises compressing said donut.

13. The method of claim 9, wherein the removing step further comprises collapsing said donut.

14. The method of claim 9;

wherein the removing step further comprises disassembling said donut.

15. A system for crimping a varied diameter graft comprising:

a mandrel having a bulbous portion, said bulbous portion having a curved crimping surface; and

a horn having a curved crimped surface aligningly engageable to said curved crimping surface of said mandrel; and

a source of ultrasonic energy.

16. A mandrel for crimping a varied diameter graft comprising:

a mandrel with a bulbous portion, said bulbous portion having a curved crimping surface.

17. A mandrel for crimping a varied diameter graft comprising:

a tubular mandrel having a diameter such that its exterior surface is slidably engageable within a vascular tubular graft, wherein said exterior mandrel surface has a crimping surface; and

a bulbously shaped mandrel donut, wherein said donut is slidable engageable over said tubular mandrel, said donut having a curved exterior crimping surface.

18. The mandrel of claim 17, wherein said donut is collapsible.

19. The mandrel of claim 17, wherein said donut is expandable.

20. The mandrel of claim 17, wherein said donut is inflatable.

21. The mandrel of claim 17, wherein said donut is made from a resilient material.

22. The mandrel of claim 17, wherein said donut is made from multiple parts and is disassembleable.