Durable high strength polymer composite suitable for implant and articles produced therefrom
First Claim
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1. A prosthetic valve comprising:
- a support structure including a plurality of posts; and
a leaflet coupled to each of the plurality of posts, each leaflet movable between open and closed positions, each leaflet including at least two layers of a composite material, the composite material including a fluoropolymer layer having a plurality of pores and an elastomer present in the pores of the fluoropolymer layer, the at least two layers of the composite material being coupled together with a layer of the elastomer between each of the at least two layers of the composite material.
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Abstract
A thin, biocompatible, high-strength, composite material is disclosed that is suitable for use in various implanted configurations. In one aspect, the composite material maintains flexibility in high-cycle flexural applications, making it particularly applicable to high-flex implants such as a prosthetic heart valve leaflet. The composite material includes a porous expanded fluoropolymer membrane and an elastomer, wherein the elastomer is present in the pores of the porous expanded fluoropolymer.
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Citations
22 Claims
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1. A prosthetic valve comprising:
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a support structure including a plurality of posts; and a leaflet coupled to each of the plurality of posts, each leaflet movable between open and closed positions, each leaflet including at least two layers of a composite material, the composite material including a fluoropolymer layer having a plurality of pores and an elastomer present in the pores of the fluoropolymer layer, the at least two layers of the composite material being coupled together with a layer of the elastomer between each of the at least two layers of the composite material. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A prosthetic valve comprising:
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a support structure including a plurality of posts; and a leaflet coupled to each of the plurality of posts, each leaflet movable between open and closed positions, each leaflet including at least two layers of a composite material, the composite material including a fluoropolymer layer having a plurality of pores and an elastomer present in the pores of the fluoropolymer layer, the at least two layers of the composite material being coupled together with a layer of the elastomer between each of the at least two layers of the composite material, wherein the fluoropolymer layer of the composite material has a thickness of less than 12 microns. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22)
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Specification