TUBULAR STRUCTURE AND METHOD FOR MAKING THE SAME
First Claim
1. A method of braiding a plurality of strands into a tubular structure comprising:
- braiding at least a first set of strands and at least a second set of strands onto a mandrel;
moving the mandrel along a longitudinal axis of the mandrel as the first and second sets of strands are being braided onto the mandrel; and
rotating the mandrel as the first and second sets of strands are being braided onto the mandrel.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A tubular structure and method for making a tubular structure are provided, where the tubular structure includes at least one layer of braided strands. In general, at least one portion of the braided strands exhibits a braid pattern of crests and troughs (e.g., a wave pattern, which may include sinusoidal, square, and/or sawtooth waves) along a length of the tubular structure. The wave pattern can be created by rotating the mandrel onto which the tubular structure is braided during the braiding process, such as by angularly oscillating the mandrel about its longitudinal axis or about its transverse axis. As a result, the tubular structures may have increased radial strength, collapse resistance, torque transmission, column strength, and kink resistance. The tubular structures may be used in medical devices, such as stent-grafts, as well as in other medical and non-medical devices, such as in hoses, tubing, filters, and other devices.
124 Citations
35 Claims
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1. A method of braiding a plurality of strands into a tubular structure comprising:
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braiding at least a first set of strands and at least a second set of strands onto a mandrel; moving the mandrel along a longitudinal axis of the mandrel as the first and second sets of strands are being braided onto the mandrel; and rotating the mandrel as the first and second sets of strands are being braided onto the mandrel. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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- 19. A tubular structure comprising at least one layer of braided strands, wherein at least a portion of the braided strands exhibits a wave pattern that includes crests and troughs along a length of the tubular structure.
- 30. A medical device configured to treat a target site within a patient'"'"'s body, the medical device comprising a tubular structure, wherein the tubular structure comprises a plurality of braided strands exhibiting a wave pattern that includes crests and troughs along a length of the tubular structure.
Specification