Tubular intraluminal graft

• US 5,718,973 A
• Filed: 07/26/1995
• Issued: 02/17/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 08/18/1993
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: W. L. Gore & Associates (W.L. Gore & Associates)
• Original Assignee: W. L. Gore & Associates (W.L. Gore & Associates)
• Inventors: Myers, David J., Lewis, James D.
• Primary Examiner(s): CHOI, KATHLEEN L
• Application Number:
  US08/508,213
• Time in Patent Office: 937 Days
• Field of Search: 428/35.7, 428/36.3, 428/36.5, 428/36.92, 428/421, 623/1, 623/11, 623/12
• US Class Current: 623/1.32
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/07 Stent-grafts
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/82 Devices providing patency to, or preventing collapsing of, tubular structures of the body, e.g. stents stent-grafts for tubular structures of the body other than blood vessels A61F2/04; stent-grafts for blood vessels A61F2/07; instruments specially adapted for placement or removal of stents or stent-grafts A61F2/95; for closing wounds, or holding wounds closed A61B17/04 - A61B17/115; dilators A61M29/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/072 Encapsulated stents, e.g. wire or whole stent embedded in lining
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/075 the stent being loosely attached to the graft material, e.g. by stitching
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2240/001 Designing or manufacturing processes
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 31/10 Macromolecular materials
• CPC Class Codes: C08L 27/18 Homopolymers or copolymers or tetrafluoroethene
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/1352 Polymer or resin containing [i.e., natural or synthetic]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/1369 Fiber or fibers wound around each other or into a self-sustaining shape [e.g., yarn, braid, fibers shaped around a core, etc.]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/1376 Foam or porous material containing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/1397 Single layer [continuous layer]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/3154 Of fluorinated addition polymer from unsaturated monomers

Abstract

A tubular intraluminal graft for repairing body conduits, made from at least one layer of porous expanded PTFE film that has a microstructure having fibrils oriented in at least two directions which are substantially perpendicular to each other. The tubular intraluminal graft has a wall thickness of less than about 0.25 mm and may have a longitudinally or helically oriented seamline. Additional reinforcing components such as reinforcing ribs or braids may also be provided.

Claims

1. An intraluminal graft comprising a tube having an exterior surface, a luminal surface, ends, and a longitudinal axis, said tube being comprised of at least one layer of porous expanded polytetrafluoroethylene film wherein the porous expanded polytetrafluoroethylene film has an edge extending between the ends of the tube and has a microstructure having fibrils oriented in at least two directions which are substantially perpendicular to each other, and wherein said tube has a wall thickness of greater than about 0.08 mm and less than about 0.25 mm.

2. An intraluminal graft according to claim 1 wherein the tube has a seamline formed by overlapping the edges of the porous expanded polytetrafluoroethylene film.

3. An intraluminal graft according to claim 2 wherein the seamline is substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the tube.

4. An intraluminal graft according to claim 2 wherein the seamline is helically oriented with respect to the longitudinal axis of the tube.

5. An intraluminal graft according to claim 1 wherein the tube has a wall thickness of less than about 0.1 mm.

6. An intraluminal graft according to claim 2 wherein the tube has a wall thickness of less than about 0.1 mm.

7. An intraluminal graft according to claim 3 wherein the tube has a wall thickness of less than about 0.1 mm.

8. An intraluminal graft according to claim 4 wherein the tube has a wall thickness of less than about 0.1 mm.

9. An intraluminal graft according to claim 2 wherein the seamline is adhered by an adhesive.

10. An intraluminal graft according to claim 9 wherein the adhesive is fluorinated ethylene propylene.

11. An intraluminal graft according to claim 1 wherein the tube is provided with at least one reinforcing rib.

12. An intraluminal graft according to claim 2 wherein the tube is provided with at least one reinforcing rib.

13. An intraluminal graft according to claim 5 wherein the tube is provided with at least one reinforcing rib.

14. An intraluminal graft according to claim 6 wherein the tube is provided with at least one reinforcing rib.

15. An intraluminal graft according to claim 1 wherein the tube is provided with a reinforcing braid.

16. An intraluminal graft according to claim 2 wherein the tube is provided with a reinforcing braid.

17. An intraluminal graft according to claim 5 wherein the tube is provided with a reinforcing braid.

18. An intraluminal graft according to claim 6 wherein the tube is provided with a reinforcing braid.