Radially expandable vascular graft with resistance to longitudinal compression and method of making same
First Claim
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1. A polytetrafluoroethylene graft, comprising:
- a tubular graft member formed of expanded polytetrafluoroethylene having a plurality of nodes and fibrils interconnecting the nodes, and forming a microporous material matrix; and
structural support means for imparting resistance to longitudinal compression or axial shrinkage of the tubular graft member 12. reinforcing the microporous material matrix along a longitudinal axis of the tubular graft member, the structural support means being integrated into at least a portion of the microporous material matrix of the tubular graft member and extending axially along a substantial longitudinal section of the tubular graft member.
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Abstract
A microporous polytetrafluoroethylene ("PTFE") endovascular graft which has a reinforcing structure integrally bound to the graft which permits radial expansion of the graft and stabilizes the graft against longitudinal compression upon application of an axial force thereto and against axial foreshortening upon radial expansion of the graft. The graft is particularly useful as a covering for an endovascular stent.
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Citations
19 Claims
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1. A polytetrafluoroethylene graft, comprising:
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a tubular graft member formed of expanded polytetrafluoroethylene having a plurality of nodes and fibrils interconnecting the nodes, and forming a microporous material matrix; and structural support means for imparting resistance to longitudinal compression or axial shrinkage of the tubular graft member 12. reinforcing the microporous material matrix along a longitudinal axis of the tubular graft member, the structural support means being integrated into at least a portion of the microporous material matrix of the tubular graft member and extending axially along a substantial longitudinal section of the tubular graft member. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. An expanded polytetrafluoroethylene endoluminal graff, comprising:
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a radially expandable tubular expanded polytetrafluoroethylene graft member characterized by a microporous material microstructure of nodes interconnected by fibrils and having a first unexpanded diameter and a second radially expanded diameter greater than the first unexpanded diameter; and a structural support member joined to the graft member, oriented substantially parallel to and extending substantially along an entire longitudinal axis of the tubular graft member, thereby providing longitudinal support to the graft member to restrict longitudinal foreshortening of the graft member during radial expansion of the graft member from the first unexpanded diameter to the second radially expanded diameter. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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Specification