Means for improving biocompatibility of implants, particularly of vascular grafts
First Claim
1. A process for making a prosthetic material adapted for implantation into the human body in contact with blood flow in the human vascular system, the process comprising the steps of:
- applying a solution of collagen to a reasonably biocompatible fabric which has interstitial spaces;
incubating the fabric having the applied collagen solution at an elevated temperature to obtain collagen fibers as a coating and in the interstitial spaces of the fabric, andtreating the fabric having collagen fibers with a solution of an aldehyde cross-linking agent to bond the fibers to one another.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Implants containing a reasonably biocompatible fabric, which is to be exposed to blood flow after implantation, are rendered biocompatible and substantially impervious to blood, by applying a collagen composition containing soluble collagen, and preferably also collagen fibers, to the fabric in such a manner that the collagen composition penetrates into the interstitial spaces of the fabric. The fabric retaining collagen composition is then incubated at elevated temperature for sufficient time to form collagen fibers from the soluble collagen. Thereafter, the implant is dried. The steps of applying collagen composition, incubating and drying are repeated approximately two to four times. The implants, particularly when they comprise tubular vascular grafts, are tested for porosity by placing a pressurized column of aqueous solution, such as saline, into their interior. When the implant is sufficiently impervious to liquid, it is treated with a suitable cross-linking agent, such as glutaraldehyde solution, to bond adjacent collagen fibers to one another. When the implants are tubular vascular grafts, the treatment with glutaraldehyde is conducted in a longitudinally extended position of the graft, and with a pressurized column of glutaraldehyde placed within the interior of the tubular grafts.
272 Citations
15 Claims
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1. A process for making a prosthetic material adapted for implantation into the human body in contact with blood flow in the human vascular system, the process comprising the steps of:
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applying a solution of collagen to a reasonably biocompatible fabric which has interstitial spaces; incubating the fabric having the applied collagen solution at an elevated temperature to obtain collagen fibers as a coating and in the interstitial spaces of the fabric, and treating the fabric having collagen fibers with a solution of an aldehyde cross-linking agent to bond the fibers to one another. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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5. A process for making a vascular graft having a tubular fabric base which has interstitial spaces wherethrough liquid can flow from the interior of the tubular base to its exterior, the process comprising the steps of:
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applying a collagen composition containing soluble collagen to the fabric base and forcing the collagen solution to enter into the interstitial spaces of the fabric; incubating the fabric base having the applied collagen composition at an elevated temperature for sufficient time to form collagen fibers from the predominant majority of the collagen solution retained in the fabric, and thereafter treating the fabric base having the collagen fibers with a solution of an aldehyde cross-linking agent to form chemical bonds between adjacent fibers of collagen. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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Specification