Selective adherence of stent-graft coverings
First Claim
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1. A method for making a radially expandable stent-graft, comprising:
- positioning a radially expandable stent member concentrically over a first polymeric member, the stent member including a plurality of interconnected stent elements that interconnect to form a plurality of interstices;
locating a second polymeric member concentrically over the stent member and first polymeric member;
at selective locations of the first polymeric member joining the first polymeric member to the second polymeric member through less than all of the interstices to form an intermediate region having a selective bonding pattern and unbonded slip planes between the first and second polymeric members to accommodate movement of at least some of the stent elements; and
fusing the first polymeric member to the second polymeric member through interstices of the stent member located at first and second end region of the stent-graft, a majority of the area of the first and second end region interstices occupied by the fused first and second polymeric members, wherein the first and second end regions have a bonding extent different from the selective bonding pattern.
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Abstract
A method for making a radially expandable stent-graft, including positioning a radially expandable stent member concentrically over a first polymeric member, locating a second polymeric member concentrically over the stent member and first polymeric member, and joining the first polymeric member to the second polymeric member through interstices of the stent member at selective locations to form slip planes between the first and second polymeric members. The slip planes accommodate movement of the stent between the polymeric members to facilitate compression of the stent graft to a low profile.
62 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method for making a radially expandable stent-graft, comprising:
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positioning a radially expandable stent member concentrically over a first polymeric member, the stent member including a plurality of interconnected stent elements that interconnect to form a plurality of interstices; locating a second polymeric member concentrically over the stent member and first polymeric member; at selective locations of the first polymeric member joining the first polymeric member to the second polymeric member through less than all of the interstices to form an intermediate region having a selective bonding pattern and unbonded slip planes between the first and second polymeric members to accommodate movement of at least some of the stent elements; and fusing the first polymeric member to the second polymeric member through interstices of the stent member located at first and second end region of the stent-graft, a majority of the area of the first and second end region interstices occupied by the fused first and second polymeric members, wherein the first and second end regions have a bonding extent different from the selective bonding pattern. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A method for making a radially expandable stent-graft comprising:
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positioning a radially expandable stent member concentrically over a first polymeric member, the stent member including a plurality of interconnected stent elements that interconnect to form a plurality of interstices; locating a second polymeric member concentrically over the stent member and first polymeric member; at selective locations of the first polymeric member partially joining the first polymeric member to the second polymeric member through less than all of the interstices to form a selectively fused pattern and slip planes between the first and second polymeric members to accommodate movement of at least some of the stent elements; and substantially completely fusing the first polymeric member to the second polymeric member throughinterstices of the stent member located at first and second end regions of the stent-graft, a majority of the area of the first and second end region interstices occupied by the fused first and second polymeric members, wherein the first and second end regions have a pattern of fusing different from the selectively fused pattern. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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14. The method of 13 wherein the step of substantially completely fusing fully bonds the end region of the first polymeric member to the end region of the second polymeric member.
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20. A method for making a radially expandable stent-graft comprising:
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positioning a first polymeric member over a mandrel having a pattern of elevated and depressed regions wherein the first polymeric member is a tubular member of unsintered ePTFE; positioning a radially expandable stent member concentrically over the first polymeric member, the stent member including a plurality of interconnected stent elements that interconnect to form a plurality of interstices; locating a second polymeric member concentrically over the stent member and first polymeric member wherein the second polymeric member is a tubular member of unsintered or partially sintered ePTFE; at selective locations of the first polymeric member joining the first polymeric member to the second polymeric member through less than all of the interstices to form a pattern of fused joints at selective locations and form slip planes between the first and second polymeric members to accommodate movement of at least some of the stent elements wherein the pattern of fused joints is one or more helical patterns disposed around the longitudinal axis; and fusing the first polymeric member to the second polymeric member through interstices of the stent member at first and second end region of the stent-graft, a majority of the area of the first and second end region interstices occupied by the fused first and second polymeric members in a pattern different from the pattern of fused joints, wherein the joining and fusing steps include inserting the stent-graft into a heating device having an inner surface that mirrors the mandrel pattern to register with the elevated and depressed regions when the heating device is closed.
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Specification