Skewed nodal-fibril ePTFE structure
First Claim
1. An ePTFE structure comprising an ePTFE tubular structure having opposite ends and a longitudinal axis, said ePTFE tubular structure being formed by rotating said opposite ends relative to one another in a direction of rotation about said longitudinal axis, said ePTFE tubular structure comprising a node and fibril micro-structure, wherein the node and fibril micro-structure comprises nodes and fibrils,wherein each node comprises a longitudinal axis therethrough, in which substantially all of said fibrils are longitudinally oriented in said direction of rotation, wherein the direction of rotation is oblique to the longitudinal axis of said tubular structure, wherein the longitudinal axis of each nodes is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the tubular structure, and the fibrils are rotated relative to the nodes and the longitudinal axis.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The ePTFE structure includes an ePTFE tubular structure having opposite ends and a longitudinal axis. The ePTFE tubular structure is formed from rotating the opposite ends relative to one another in a direction of rotation about the longitudinal axis. The ePTFE tubular structure has a node and fibril micro-structure in which substantially all of the fibrils are oriented in the direction of rotation.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. An ePTFE structure comprising an ePTFE tubular structure having opposite ends and a longitudinal axis, said ePTFE tubular structure being formed by rotating said opposite ends relative to one another in a direction of rotation about said longitudinal axis, said ePTFE tubular structure comprising a node and fibril micro-structure, wherein the node and fibril micro-structure comprises nodes and fibrils,
wherein each node comprises a longitudinal axis therethrough, in which substantially all of said fibrils are longitudinally oriented in said direction of rotation, wherein the direction of rotation is oblique to the longitudinal axis of said tubular structure, wherein the longitudinal axis of each nodes is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the tubular structure, and the fibrils are rotated relative to the nodes and the longitudinal axis.
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9. An ePTFE structure comprising an ePTFE tubular structure having opposite ends located along a longitudinal axis, said ePTFE tubular structure comprising a node and fibril micro-structure, wherein the node and fibril micro-structure comprises nodes and fibrils, wherein the nodes each comprise a longitudinal axis therethrough, in which substantially all of said fibrils have an inclined orientation relative to said longitudinal axis of the tubular structure wherein said inclined orientation is substantially constant between said opposite ends, wherein the longitudinal axis of each nodes is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the tubular structure, and wherein substantially all the fibrils are at an oblique angle relative to the longitudinal axis and the nodes.
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10. a method for making an ePTFE structure, said method comprising:
providing an ePTFE tubular structure having a longitudinal axis and opposite ends, the ePTFE tubular structure having a node and fibril micro-structure, wherein the node and fibril micro-structure comprises nodes and fibrils, fixing one end of the ePTFE tubular structure to obstruct rotation thereof about the longitudinal axis of the ePTFE tubular structure, rotating the other end of the ePTFE tubular structure about the longitudinal axis thereof to orient the fibrils of the node and fibril micro-structure in the direction of rotation of the other end relative to the one end of the ePTFE tubular structure;
wherein the nodes of the node and fibril micro-structure each have a longitudinal axis therethrough, and wherein the longitudinal axis of each of the nodes are perpendicular to the longitudinal axis and the fibrils are at an oblique angle relative to the longitudinal axis and the nodes.- View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
Specification