Endoluminal graft with integral structural support and method for making same
First Claim
1. An endoluminal prosthesis, comprising:
- a tubular graft member having a first open end, a second open end, and a wall having an interior surface and an exterior surface which are separated by a wall thickness, the wall being located between the first and second open ends wherein the interior surface of the wall defines a lumen; and
at least one structural support member coupled to the tubular graft member and containing a plurality of longitudinally deformable strain relief sections which permit contemporaneous longitudinal deformation of at least some of the plurality of strain relief sections and diametric expansion of the tubular graft members, wherein said strain relief sections are formed from a material having different mechanical properties than said tubular graft member.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A structurally supported graft (10) having a support structure (26) with strain relief sections (30) contained with an internal surface, an external surface, or a wall thickness of a tubular graft member (12). The structurally supported graft (10) may include a beading element (24) which is co-extruded with the support structure (26) having strain relief sections (30) and spiraled about the tubular graft (10). The support structure (26) includes differing types of strain relief sections (30) which are capable of allowing for the longitudinal and radial expansion of the structurally supported graft (10), respectively. The strain relief sections (30) may also include unconnected ends which form outwardly protruding barbs (62) upon expansion of the structurally supported graft within a blood vessel or body lumen. The method for making the structurally supported graft includes selecting or preparing a support structure with strain relief sections, co-extruding the structural support with a beading element, forming a spiral about the tubular graft with the co-extruded structure, and securing the co-extruded structure to the tubular graft.
309 Citations
33 Claims
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1. An endoluminal prosthesis, comprising:
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a tubular graft member having a first open end, a second open end, and a wall having an interior surface and an exterior surface which are separated by a wall thickness, the wall being located between the first and second open ends wherein the interior surface of the wall defines a lumen; and at least one structural support member coupled to the tubular graft member and containing a plurality of longitudinally deformable strain relief sections which permit contemporaneous longitudinal deformation of at least some of the plurality of strain relief sections and diametric expansion of the tubular graft members, wherein said strain relief sections are formed from a material having different mechanical properties than said tubular graft member. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. An integrally structurally supported graft, comprising:
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an expanded polytetrafluoroethylene tubular graft member; a beading bound about one of an outer and inner surface of the tubular member; and at least one structural support member at least partially retained within the beading, the at least one structural support member having a plurality of deformable strain relief sections which deform under the influence of a longitudinally-oriented load thereby extending the longitudinal length of the at least one structural support members wherein said structural support member is made of a material, having different mechanical properties than said tubular graft member. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 33)
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28. A method for making a structurally supported graft comprising the steps of:
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a) providing at least one structural support member having a plurality of longitudinally deformable inelastic strain relief sections; b) circumferentially coupling the covered structural support member with a tubular graft member. - View Dependent Claims (29, 30, 31)
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32. A method for making a structurally supported graft comprising the steps of:
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a) providing a structural support member having a plurality of longitudinally deformable inelastic strain relief sections which permit longitudinal expansion of the structural support member under the influence of a longitudinally oriented load; and b) attaching the structural support member to a tubular graft member such that the plurality of strain relief sections are capable of longitudinal expansion under the influence of a longitudinally oriented load applied to the structural support member.
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Specification