Tubular structure and method for making the same
First Claim
1. A tubular structure comprising at least one layer of braided strands forming a braid pattern, wherein at least a portion of the braid pattern exhibits a wave pattern that includes crests and troughs along a length of the tubular structure.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A tubular structure and method for making a tubular structure are provided, where the tubular structure includes at least one layer of braided strands. In general, at least one portion of the braided strands exhibits a braid pattern of crests and troughs (e.g., a wave pattern, which may include sinusoidal, square, and/or sawtooth waves) along a length of the tubular structure. The wave pattern can be created by rotating the mandrel onto which the tubular structure is braided during the braiding process, such as by angularly oscillating the mandrel about its longitudinal axis or about its transverse axis. As a result, the tubular structures may have increased radial strength, collapse resistance, torque transmission, column strength, and kink resistance. The tubular structures may be used in medical devices, such as stent-grafts, as well as in other medical and non-medical devices, such as in hoses, tubing, filters, and other devices.
52 Citations
17 Claims
- 1. A tubular structure comprising at least one layer of braided strands forming a braid pattern, wherein at least a portion of the braid pattern exhibits a wave pattern that includes crests and troughs along a length of the tubular structure.
- 12. A medical device configured to treat a target site within a patient'"'"'s body, the medical device comprising a tubular structure, wherein the tubular structure comprises a plurality of braided strands forming a braid pattern, the braid pattern exhibiting a wave pattern that includes crests and troughs along a length of the tubular structure.
Specification