Abstract: A layered electrode having a large tissue contact area of the portion of the electrode that is electrically active and providing low polarization losses, high pacing impedance and low chronic stimulation voltage. In a fundamental embodiment, the electrode tip has an outer layer of microporous material which is permeable to conductive body fluids which covers a layer of insulating material which is provided with at least one perforation through the thickness of the material. The at least one perforation provides a localized, high current density path. Both of these layers in turn cover the exterior surface of an electrically conductive, preferably metal, electrode body.

Abstract: An ePTFE vascular graft having a smooth PTFE luminal surface which is substantially non-adhesive to occlusive blood components. Preferably the graft is a longitudinally extruded and expanded ePTFE tube of about 10-30 microns mean fibril length and is provided with a luminal surface covering of an ePTFE film of small mean fibril length (5 microns of less) which provides the smooth luminal PTFE surface. The graft is anticipated to be particularly effective as a small diameter graft (6 mm or smaller). It is anticipated to have utility as a conventional vascular graft, as a cardiovascular patch and as an intraluminal vascular graft and as a covering for stents.

Abstract: A tubular intraluminal graft in the form of a tubular diametrically adjustable stent having a tubular covering of porous expanded polytetrafluoroethylene which is less than 0.10 mm thick. The covering may be on the exterior surface of the stent, or on the interior surface of the stent, or both. The covering may be affixed to the stent by an adhesive which is preferably fluorinated ethylene propylene.

Abstract: A web of continuous filaments which are made of at least one semi-crystalline polymeric component covalently bonded as a linear block copolymer with or blended with one or more semi-crystalline or amorphous polymeric components. The filaments are intermingled together to form a porous web of filaments, the filaments having multiple contact points with each other within the web. The filaments are bonded at the contact points without requisite for added adhesive binders, adjuncts or post extrusion melt processing. The web may be bioresorbable. The web may also be provided in forms with relatively high cohesive shear strength. The polymeric components of the filaments exist, at least temporarily, in a homogenous substantially phase miscible uncrystallized state.

Abstract: A three dimensional facial space-filling implant adapted for filling space subcutaneously, said space being located primarily at the interface of a soft tissue surface and a bone surface. The article has a length, width and thickness wherein the thickness is oriented substantially orthogonal to first and second substantially opposing surfaces of the article. The thickness varies according to location along the length and width. The first surface is adapted to be substantially in contact with the soft tissue surface when implanted. This first surface is substantially porous having void spaces of size adequate to allow tissue ingrowth into at least a portion of the void spaces. The second surface is adapted to be substantially in contact with the bone surface when implanted and is substantially non-porous to substantially prevent ingrowth of bony tissue into the second surface. The first surface is preferably porous polytetrafluoroethylene and the thickness and second surface are preferably silicone.

Abstract: A flexible, non-porous tube characterized by the fact that the void spaces present in the luminal surface of a substrate tube of porous polytetrafluoroethylene are filled with a silicone or fluorosilicone rubber, that a continuous coating of said silicone or fluorosilicone rubber is not present on the inner surface of said tube, and that the inner surface of said tube incorporates surfaces of both the polytetrafluoroethylene and the silicone or fluorosilicone rubber. The tube has excellent lubricity, resistance to contamination, resistance to chemicals, and has exceptional tube flexing properties. The flexible tube may be employed, for example, as a tube for removal of gas destructively tested by a gas sensor, as a tube for transporting various liquids, and particularly as a tube in medical applications, such as a forceps channel tube, an endoscope channel tube, a bodily fluid transport tube, catheter tube, or the like. A method of making the tube is also described.