DURABLE HIGH STRENGTH POLYMER COMPOSITE SUITABLE FOR IMPLANT AND ARTICLES PRODUCED THEREFROM
First Claim
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1. A prosthetic valve, comprising:
- a frame; and
a leaflet coupled to the frame and movable between an open and closed position, the leaflet comprising a composite material having at least one fluoropolymer layer having a plurality of pores and an elastomer present in the pores,wherein the at least one fluoropolymer layer exhibits a ratio of matrix tensile strength in two orthogonal directions of less than 2.
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Abstract
A thin, biocompatible, high-strength, composite material is disclosed that is suitable for use in various implanted configurations. In one aspect, the composite material maintains flexibility in high-cycle flexural applications, making it particularly applicable to high-flex implants such as a prosthetic heart valve leaflet. The composite material includes a porous expanded fluoropolymer membrane and an elastomer, wherein the elastomer is present in the pores of the porous expanded fluoropolymer.
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Citations
23 Claims
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1. A prosthetic valve, comprising:
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a frame; and a leaflet coupled to the frame and movable between an open and closed position, the leaflet comprising a composite material having at least one fluoropolymer layer having a plurality of pores and an elastomer present in the pores, wherein the at least one fluoropolymer layer exhibits a ratio of matrix tensile strength in two orthogonal directions of less than 2. - 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 prosthetic valve, comprising:
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a leaflet comprising a composite material having at least one fluoropolymer layer having a plurality of pores and an elastomer present in the pores, wherein the at least one fluoropolymer layer exhibits a ratio of matrix tensile strength in two orthogonal directions of less than 2.
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20. A prosthetic valve comprising:
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a support structure including a plurality of posts; and a leaflet coupled to each of the plurality of posts, each leaflet movable between open and closed positions, each leaflet including at least two layers of a composite material, the composite material including a fluoropolymer layer having a plurality of pores and an elastomer present in the pores of the fluoropolymer layer, the at least two layers of composite material being coupled together with a layer of the elastomer between each of the at least two layers of composite material. - View Dependent Claims (21)
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22. A prosthetic heart valve comprising:
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a support structure including a plurality of posts; and a leaflet coupled to each of the plurality of posts, each leaflet movable between open and closed positions, each leaflet including at least two layers of a composite material, the composite material including a fluoropolymer layer having a plurality of pores and an elastomer present in the pores of the fluoropolymer layer, the at least two layers of composite material being coupled together with a layer of the elastomer between each of the at least two layers of composite material, wherein the fluoropolymer layer of the composite material has a thickness of less than 12 microns. - View Dependent Claims (23)
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Specification