Abstract: There is provided a thin-walled self-sealing vascular graft with a first tubular structure formed from ePTFE and having a wall thickness of 0.2 mm or less, and a resealable polymer layer, such as a styrene copolymer, located on one surface of said first tubular structure. A second tubular structure may also be present, so that the resealable polymer layer is disposed between said first and second tubular structure. The second tubular structure is preferably formed from a textile layer but can also be ePTFE. The graft can be used for replacing a defective portion of the vasculature in a patient in need thereof.

Abstract: There is provided a thin-walled self-sealing vascular graft with a first tubular structure formed from ePTFE and having a wall thickness of 0.2 mm or less, and a resealable polymer layer, such as a styrene copolymer, located on one surface of said first tubular structure. A second tubular structure may also be present, so that the resealable polymer layer is disposed between said first and second tubular structure. The second tubular structure is preferably formed from a textile layer but can also be ePTFE. A method of forming such a self-sealing graft is also provided comprising the steps of wrapping unsintered ePTFE tape helically onto a mandrel such that adjacent turns of the ePTFE tape overlap; sintering the layers of tape by heating above the crystalline melting point of ePTFE to form a sintered tubular structure, and applying a resealable polymer layer to one surface of said first tubular structure. The graft can be used for replacing a defective portion of the vasculature in a patient in need thereof.