Method of making a stent-graft covered with expanded polytetrafluoroethylene
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A method of making an expandable prosthesis comprising:
- (a) providing a self-expanding braided stent having a longitudinal orientation in an at least partially radially expanded state;
(b) providing at least one layer of expanded polytetrafluoroethylene having a longitudinal orientation and a first average longitudinal inter-nodule distance in a free state;
(c) longitudinally compressing the layer of expanded polytetrafluoroethylene so that the resulting longitudinally compressed layer has a second average longitudinal inter-nodule distance which is less than the first average longitudinal inter-nodule distance; and
(d) affixing the longitudinally compressed layer of expanded polytetrafluoroethylene to the self-expanding braided stent in the at least partially radially expanded state such that the longitudinal orientations of the stent and layer of expanded polytetrafluoroethylene substantially correspond with one another.
9 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
The expandable stent-graft generally defines a cylindrical lumen made from a stent having a discontinuous wall that is at least substantially covered with an expanded polytetrafluoroethylene material. The expanded polytetrafluoroethylene covering may be a biaxially oriented, expanded polytetrafluoroethylene material having nodules and longitudinal and circumferential fibrils or a uniaxially oriented, expanded polytetrafluoroethylene material. The expandable stent-graft expands and compresses in association with the stent structure as it is contracted and expanded.
-
Citations
10 Claims
-
1. A method of making an expandable prosthesis comprising:
-
(a) providing a self-expanding braided stent having a longitudinal orientation in an at least partially radially expanded state; (b) providing at least one layer of expanded polytetrafluoroethylene having a longitudinal orientation and a first average longitudinal inter-nodule distance in a free state; (c) longitudinally compressing the layer of expanded polytetrafluoroethylene so that the resulting longitudinally compressed layer has a second average longitudinal inter-nodule distance which is less than the first average longitudinal inter-nodule distance; and (d) affixing the longitudinally compressed layer of expanded polytetrafluoroethylene to the self-expanding braided stent in the at least partially radially expanded state such that the longitudinal orientations of the stent and layer of expanded polytetrafluoroethylene substantially correspond with one another. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
-
Specification