Longitudinally compliant vascular graft
First Claim
1. A longitudinally compliant vascular graft comprising in combination:
- a. a length of porous PTFE tubing having a micro-structure characterized by nodes interconnected by fibrils, said PTFE tubing having a central longitudinal axis and including an outer cylindrical wall, at least a portion of said PTFE tubing having been compressed along the central longitudinal axis thereof following the production of said PTFE tubing; and
b. a coating of a biocompatible elastomer covering the outer cylindrical wall of said PTFE tubing over at least said compressed portion of said PTFE tubing;
c. said compressed portion of said PTFE tubing coated by said biocompatible elastomer being adapted to be stretched along the central longitudinal axis of said PTFE tubing.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A longitudinally compliant PTFE graft is provided by compressing at least a portion of a porous PTFE tube along its longitudinal axis and coating at least the outer wall of the compressed portion of the PTFE tube with a biocompatible elastomer for allowing the compressed portion of the tube to be stretched along the longitudinal axis. The PTFE tube is compressed by pulling the tube over a cylindrical mandrel of like diameter and applying a compression force to the tube along its longitudinal axis. The compressed portion(s) is (are) secured against movement upon the mandrel, and a coating of liquified polyurethane or other biocompatible elastomer is then applied over at least the compressed portion(s) of the tube. The elastomeric coating may be applied by dip coating or spray coating techniques. After the elastomeric coating has dried, the completed graft is removed from the mandrel.
402 Citations
19 Claims
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1. A longitudinally compliant vascular graft comprising in combination:
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a. a length of porous PTFE tubing having a micro-structure characterized by nodes interconnected by fibrils, said PTFE tubing having a central longitudinal axis and including an outer cylindrical wall, at least a portion of said PTFE tubing having been compressed along the central longitudinal axis thereof following the production of said PTFE tubing; and b. a coating of a biocompatible elastomer covering the outer cylindrical wall of said PTFE tubing over at least said compressed portion of said PTFE tubing; c. said compressed portion of said PTFE tubing coated by said biocompatible elastomer being adapted to be stretched along the central longitudinal axis of said PTFE tubing. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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5. A method of producing a longitudinally compliant PTFE vascular graft which is adapted to be stretched along its longitudinal axis, said method comprising the steps of:
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a. providing a porous PTFE tube having a predetermined internal diameter and having a longitudinal axis, and including an outer cylindrical wall; b. compressing at least a portion of the tube along its longitudinal axis while maintaining the predetermined internal diameter of the tube substantially constant; c. applying a coating of a liquified elastomer to the outer cylindrical wall of the tube over at least the compressed portion thereof; and d. drying the coating of liquified elastomer upon the outer cylindrical Wall of the tube while maintaining the compressed portion of the tube in a compressed condition. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A longitudinally compliant vascular graft resulting from using the method comprising the steps of:
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a. providing a porous PTFE tube having a predetermined internal diameter and having a longitudinal axis, and including an outer cylindrical wall; b. compressing at least a portion of the tube along its longitudinal axis While maintaining the predetermined internal diameter of the tube substantially constant; c. applying a coating of a liquified elastomer to the outer cylindrical wall of the tube over at least the compressed portion thereof; and d. drying the coating of liquified elastomer upon the outer cylindrical Wall of the tube while maintaining the compressed portion of the tube in a compressed condition. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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Specification