Abstract: An endoluminal graft which is both expandable and supportive is provided either in a longitudinal form or in a bifurcated form. The graft expands between a first diameter and a second, larger diameter. The support component is an expandable stent endoprosthesis. A cover, liner, or a liner, or both a cover and a liner are applied to the endoprosthesis in the form of a stretchable wall material that is porous, elastomeric and biocompatible in order to allow normal cellular invasion upon implantation, without stenosis, when the expandable and supportive graft is at its second diameter. Preferably, the elastomeric wall material is a polycarbonate urethane.

Abstract: An apparatus and method are disclosed for measuring the desired length of a prosthetic device which is to be implanted in a body cavity of a patient. The apparatus generally includes a helically coiled stent formed of a resiliently-deformable material, a plunger which is connected to the proximal end of the stent, a sheath which slides over the plunger and stent when the plunger and sheath are used to insert and removably deploy the stent into the body cavity, and a scale for measuring an indication of the length of the stent once removably deployed in the body cavity. Proximal movement of the sheath to partially deploy the stent causes a length to be indicated on the scale. According to the method of the invention, the helically coiled stent of the apparatus is placed and partially deployed within the body cavity by use of the plunger and sheath of the apparatus. Once the stent bridges the body cavity, the scale of the apparatus is used to determine the length of the deployed stent.

Abstract: An endoluminal graft which is both expandable and supportive is provided either in a longitudinal form or in a bifurcated form. The graft expands between a first diameter and a second, larger diameter. The support component is an expandable stent endoprosthesis. A cover, liner, or a liner, or both a cover and a liner are applied to the endoprosthesis in the form of a stretchable wall material that is porous, elastomeric and biocompatible in order to allow normal cellular invasion upon implantation, without stenosis, when the expandable and supportive graft is at its second diameter. Preferably, the elastomeric wall material is a polycarbonate urethane.

Abstract: An endoluminal graft which is both expandable and supportive is provided either in a longitudinal form or in a bifurcated form. The graft expands between a first diameter and a second, larger diameter. The support component is an expandable stent endoprosthesis. A cover, liner, or a liner, or both a cover and a liner are applied to the endoprosthesis in the form of a stretchable wall material that is porous, elastomeric and biocompatible in order to allow normal cellular invasion upon implantation, without stenosis, when the expandable and supportive graft is at its second diameter. Preferably, the elastomeric wall material is a polycarbonate urethane.

Abstract: An endoluminal graft which is both expandable and supportive is provided either in a longitudinal form or in a bifurcated form. The graft expands between a first diameter and a second, larger diameter. The support component is an expandable stent endoprosthesis. A cover, liner, or a liner, or both a cover and a liner are applied to the endoprosthesis in the form of a stretchable wall material that is porous, elastomeric and biocompatible in order to allow normal cellular invasion upon implantation, without stenosis, when the expandable and supportive graft is at its second diameter. Preferably, the elastomeric wall material is a polycarbonate urethane.

Abstract: An endoluminal graft which is both expandable and supportive is provided in a form suitable for use in a bifurcated body vessel location. The graft expands between a first diameter and a second, larger diameter. The support component is an expandable stent endoprosthesis. A cover, a liner, or both a cover and a liner are applied to the endoprosthesis in the form of a stretchable wall material that is porous, elastomeric and biocompatible in order to allow normal cellular invasion upon implantation, without stenosis, when the expandable and supportive graft is at its second diameter. The supportive endoluminal graft is preferably provided as a plurality of components that are deployed separately at the bifurcated body vessel location.

Abstract: A generally tubular endoprosthesis or stent that includes a non-woven structure formed by two or more generally helically shaped cylinders of stiff strand material is provided. The strand material forming the non-woven structure is preferably secured together at attachment sites thereby allowing the stent to be flexible and adjustable to meet various application needs. Typically, these attachment sites will be somewhat frangible. The method used to make the endoprosthesis allows the architecture of the non-woven structure of the endoprosthesis to be varied according to the application for which the device is intended.

Abstract: A reinforced graft assembly made from a vascular graft component and a reinforcing sleeve component. The reinforcing sleeve component may include one or more layers. The diameter of the inner surface of the most internal layer of the reinforcing sleeve component is approximately equal to or larger than the diameter of the vascular graft component thereby allowing the former to be fitted over the latter. The compliance of the sleeve component is adjustable depending on the application needs, for example, by varying the angle at which the fibers used to form the sleeve component are laid down and by the method used to join the two components.

Abstract: A generally tubular endoprosthesis or stent that includes a non-woven structure formed by two or more generally helically shaped cylinders of stiff strand material is provided. The strand material forming the non-woven structure is preferably secured together at attachment sites thereby allowing the stent to be flexible and adjustable to meet various application needs. Typically, these attachment sites will be somewhat frangible. The method used to make the endoprosthesis allows the architecture of the non-woven structure of the endoprosthesis to be varied according to the application for which the device is intended.

Abstract: A bifurcating stent for insertion into a bifurcating vessel such as a blood vessel. The stent can be expanded from an insertion configuration to an implanted configuration by the application of radially outward forces against a series of interconnected wire loops that make up the stent. The preferred and disclosed method of stent implantation is accomplished with the use of a balloon catheter that expands the stent into contact with inner walls of the vessel. The balloon is then deflated and withdrawn from the vessel, leaving the stent implanted within the vessel.

Abstract: Novel cardiovascular prosthetic devices or implants having many useful cardiovascular applications comprise a porous surface and a network of interconnected interstitial pores below the surface in fluid flow communication with the surface pores. Tissue forms a smooth thin adherent coating or self-determining thickness on the porous surface making it resistant to the formation of the blood clots normally associated with the presence of foreign bodies in the blood stream. The device has particular utility in heart valves, pacemaker electrodes, blood pumps, blood stream filters, an artificial pancreas, vascular access tubes, small and large bore vascular grafts, blood pump diaphragms and vascular and intracardiac patches.

Abstract: An endocardial pacemaker electrode has a surface region constructed of carbon and having pores for receiving the growth of tissue therein to permit the fixation of the electrode in the atrium or other location by the ingrowth of adjacent tissue. By fixing the location of the electrode, low stimulation thresholds and a consistent magnitude of sensed endocardial signal are maintained.

Abstract: Surgical sutures are provided that have an elastomeric and porous structure. The elastomeric porous structure can be formed from a plurality of fibers that are wound onto a stylet or onto an elongated and elastomeric central core of the suture, or from a mixture including elutable material that is cast into the configuration of a suture, either as a generally unitary cylinder or over an elongated and elastomeric central core of the suture.

Abstract: Composite grafts are provided that have a porous wall structure to permit ingrowth thereinto under in vivo conditions but which include a generally non-porous membrane in the wall to prevent substantial fluid passage therethrough so as to provide an implantable porous graft that does not require preclotting prior to implantation. One or more of such membranes are formed in place by applying a polymeric membrane-forming composition during the formation of a graft body by winding elongated extruded fibers on a mandrel.

Abstract: Surgical sutures are provided that have a surface which has a porous structure. The porous structure can be formed from a plurality of fibers that are wound onto an elongated central core of the suture, or from a mixture including elutable particles that is cast into the configuration of a suture, either as a generally unitary cylinder or over an elongated central core of the suture.

Abstract: Disclosed is a cardiac pacing lead comprising an electrical stimulating member (electrode) with a plurality of biodegradable fins adjacent to its tip and with or without a porous metal coating. After surgical introduction, temporary fixation of the device to the surface of the cardiac wall is supplied by the fins. The device achieves permanent fixation by ingrowth of viable tissue into the interstices of the porous electrode and/or by tissue ensheathment of the distal portion of the lead. The process of permanent fixation occurs over a period of weeks during which time the fins are gradually absorbed into the blood and/or adjacent tissue. The lead can also be used to stimulate tissue other than cardiac tissue, such as nervous system tissue.

Abstract: Novel cardiovascular prosthetic devices or implants having many useful cardiovascular applications comprise a porous surface and a network of interconnected interstitial pores below the surface in fluid flow communication with the surface pores. Tissue forms a smooth thin adherent coating of self-determining thickness on the porous surface making it resistant to the formation of the blood clots normally associated with the presence of foreign bodies in the blood stream. The device has particular utility in heart valves, pacemaker electrodes, blood pumps, blood stream filters, an artificial pancreas, vascular access tubes, small and large bore vascular grafts, blood pump diaphragms and vascular and intracardiac patches.

Abstract: A member and method for anchoring and relieving the strain on a flexible, percutaneous lead which exits the body of a patient includes a flexible, elastomeric disc having a surface for contacting and conforming to the body of the patient. The surface is adhesively attached to the body at the location at which the lead exits the body. The opposite surface of the disc includes a bulbous shaped head. A passage extends through the adhesive, the disc and the head for snugly receiving the lead to extend therethrough. A slit may be provided in the disc between its perimeter and the passage for opening the disc to receive the lead in the passage and/or to remove the lead from the passage.

Abstract: An implantable device is provided by a process that includes preparing a substrate which has a low impedance carbon coating over a porous substrate. The carbon coating is a carbon lattice formed by plasma depositing a hydrocarbon within an energized gaseous environment. The implantable device is one into which tissue ingrowth is desired, such as electrodes for cardiac and neurostimulation.

Abstract: An elongate vial of glass or other breakable material includes upper and lower portions which are separated by a weakened portion to facilitate breaking of the vial at the weakened portion. Flexible sleeves surround the upper and lower portions of the vial adjacent the weakened portion and cover the weakened portion. The sleeves are deformable across the break in the portions of the vial when the vial is broken to minimize injury to persons who come into contact with the broken vial and damage to a catheter which might be inserted into the vial. The deformed portion of the sleeve which remains on the lower portion of the vial defines an opening to permit access to the contents of the lower portion of the vial.