Luminal graft endoprotheses and manufacture thereof
First Claim
1. A process for manufacturing a luminal endoprosthesis, comprising the steps of:
- providing a support element having an external surface and an internal surface, which support element is expandable from a first diameter at which it is insertable into a body pathway and to a second diameter greater than the first diameter;
applying an expandable porous coating onto at least one of the external surface and internal surface of the support element, said applying step being carried out while the support element is at its said first diameter, and said applying step includes applying expandable fibers to form the expandable porous coating to form a predetermined structure of fibers having openings therebetween; and
said applying step includes providing the expandable porous coating to form a predetermined structure having pores therein such that, when the support element expands from its first diameter to its second diameter, said pores are opened to allow normal cellular invasion thereinto from the body pathway when implanted therewithin.
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Abstract
A luminal endovascular graft or endoprosthesis having a tubular support which expands between a first diameter and a second, larger diameter is provided with an expandable porous coating which is applied over either or both of the internal cylindrical surface and the external cylindrical surface of the tubular support. The first diameter allows the introduction of the luminal endoprosthesis into human or animal body passages. The expandable coating preferably is made from biocompatible fibers formed into a structure which allows normal cellular invasion upon implantation, without stenosis or restenosis, when the support element is at its second diameter.
193 Citations
17 Claims
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1. A process for manufacturing a luminal endoprosthesis, comprising the steps of:
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providing a support element having an external surface and an internal surface, which support element is expandable from a first diameter at which it is insertable into a body pathway and to a second diameter greater than the first diameter; applying an expandable porous coating onto at least one of the external surface and internal surface of the support element, said applying step being carried out while the support element is at its said first diameter, and said applying step includes applying expandable fibers to form the expandable porous coating to form a predetermined structure of fibers having openings therebetween; and said applying step includes providing the expandable porous coating to form a predetermined structure having pores therein such that, when the support element expands from its first diameter to its second diameter, said pores are opened to allow normal cellular invasion thereinto from the body pathway when implanted therewithin. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A process for manufacturing a luminal endoprosthesis, comprising the steps of:
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providing a support element having an external surface and an internal surface, which support element is expandable from a first diameter at which it is insertable into a living body pathway and to a second diameter greater than the first diameter, the support element having a third diameter equal to or greater than its second diameter; applying expandable fibers onto at least one of the external surface and internal surface of the support element to form an expandable fibrous coating, said applying step being carried out while the support element is at its said third diameter, said applying step includes positioning the expandable fibers to form a predetermined structure of fibers having openings therebetween such that, when the support element is at its second diameter, said openings between the fibers are greater than about 1μ
; andlongitudinally stretching the support element having the expandable fibrous coating until the support element reaches its first diameter. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17)
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Specification