Abstract: An implantable intraluminal prosthesis assembly is provided for use in repairing or replacing damaged or diseased portions of a blood vessel or other like vessel. The prosthesis includes an expandable stent/graft combination, with a pair of stents at either end of the graft, and further includes a plurality of struts extending between and interconnecting the stents, and radially spaced about the inner surface of the graft. As such, the implantable prosthesis is provided with internal support for the graft when in a compressed state during implantation and is further provided with radial support along the length of the graft after implantation.

Abstract: A radially self-expanding implantable intraluminal device formed from a hollow tubular braid. The intraluminal device may be used in a variety of medical procedures which require a passageway to be maintained in an open position or which require reinforcement, support or a bypass conduit such as in blood vessels weakened by disease. The intraluminal device is longitudinally expanded or radially collapsed for ease of insertion into a lumen and upon alignment within the lumen, the intraluminal device radially self-expands to come into intimate contact with the inner surface of the lumen.

Abstract: Disclosed are implantable medical devices with enhanced patency. Expanded polytetrafluoroethylene small caliber vascular grafts coated with polymer bound bio-active agents that exhibit enhanced patency are disclosed. The polymer bound bio-active agents can include anti-thrombogenic agents, antibiotics, antibacterial agents and antiviral agents. Methods of preparing same are also provided.

Abstract: An intraluminally implantable stent is formed of helically wound wire. The stent has a generally elongate tubular configuration and is radially expandable after implantation in a body vessel. The wire includes successively formed waves along the length of the wire. When helically wound into a tube, the waves are longitudinally nested along the longitudinal extent of the stent so as to form a densely compacted wire configuration. After radial expansion the stent maintains high radial compressive strength and wire density to retard tissue ingrowth.

Abstract: An implantable intraluminal device includes a multilayer composite tubular device supporting one or more stents between the layer thereof and a method of making such a device is disclosed. A first porous elongate tube includes an exterior surface and an interior luminal surface. A radially expandable member is disposed about the exterior surface of the first tube. A second porous elongate tube is disposed concentrically over the first tube and is secured thereto so that the radially expandable member is longitudinally immobilized therebetween.

Abstract: There is described a bio-compatible aqueous slurry for forming a fluid-tight barrier on a surface of a porous implantable article. This aqueous slurry includes a self-aggregating protein comminutate having a substantially uniform particle size, a bio-compatible plasticizer and water. This aqueous slurry is further characterized by having a viscosity of about 8,000 centipoise to about 60,000 centipoise at 25° C. and a pH sufficient to maintain the protein suspended in the slurry.

Abstract: A radially self-expanding implantable intraluminal device formed from a hollow tubular braid. The intraluminal device may be used in a variety of medical procedures which require a passageway to be maintained in an open position or which require reinforcement, support or a bypass conduit such as in blood vessels weakened by disease. The intraluminal device is longitudinally expanded or radially collapsed for ease of insertion into a lumen and upon alignment within the lumen, the intraluminal device radially self-expands to come into intimate contact with the inner surface of the lumen.

Abstract: Devices and methods for rendering an intravascular stent radioactive in-situ, after stent placement. A stent is provided having a tubular body and a first substance immobilized on body. The first substance preferably has a high and selective affinity for a second substance which can be radioactive, cytotoxic or thrombolytic. The first substance can also have an affinity for growth factors or thrombolytic, chemolytic or cytotoxic agents. The stent can be placed across a stenosed blood vessel region, preferably after dilation by angioplasty or atherectomy. After stent placement within the vessel, the second substance can be injected into the blood stream of a patient. With each pass through the stent, the second substance is increasingly bound to the first substance on the stent. Suitable complementary substance pairs include avidin and radio-labeled biotin, protamine and radioactive heparin, and protein and anti-protein antibody.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a catheter systems for introducing and implanting an expandable stent member in a body. The catheter includes a catheter member having first and second ends, the first end having an inflatable portion, a lumen in fluid communication with the inflatable portion and the second end for inflating the inflatable portion. The expandable stent member is capable of permanent deformation when expanded. At least a portion of the stent member is attached to the inflatable portion by a bond and whereby upon inflation of the inflatable portion the bond is released from the stent member to permit deployment of the stent member and removal of the catheter member. The bond may be formed by the same or different material than the balloon surface. For example, an adhesive may be used.

Abstract: An implantable tubular textile prosthesis particularly useful in branched end-to-side anastomoses is provided. The prosthesis includes a first portion including an elongate tubular main wall which defines a fluid passageway therethrough, and a second portion including a tubular branch wall which extends laterally from the tubular main wall and which defines a fluid passageway therethrough. The tubular branch wall includes an elongate tubular extent and a contiguous flared tubular extent. The tubular branch wall is secured to the tubular main wall at the flared tubular extent to establish fluid communication between the passageways of the tubular main wall and the tubular branch wall. The flared tubular extent includes a gradual increase in diameter with respect to the tubular branch extent to provide a seamless and substantially fluid-tight transition between the tubular main wall and the tubular branch wall along the flared tubular extent.

Abstract: There is described a bio-compatible aqueous slurry for forming a fluid-tight barrier on a surface of a porous implantable article. This aqueous slurry includes a self-aggregating protein comminutate having a substantially uniform particle size, a bio-compatible plasticizer and water. This aqueous slurry is further characterized by having a viscosity of about 8,000 centipoise to about 60,000 centipoise at 25° C. and a pH sufficient to maintain the protein suspended in the slurry.

Abstract: A heparin-collagen dispersion is provided for impregnating a vascular prosthesis with heparin and collagen. The dispersion is prepared at an alkaline pH to allow the addition of heparin without causing the agglutination of collagen from the dispersion. The impregnation of collagen and heparin within the prosthesis effectively prevents blood loss and thrombus formation after implantation of the prosthesis.

Abstract: Continuously flat-woven implantable tubular prostheses have seamless woven sections which gradually change the number of warp yarns to smoothly transition, i.e., taper, from one diameter to another. Multi-diameter endoluminal grafts having a variety of shapes and configurations are made using a seamless weaving process without unacceptable voids or gaps in the tubular wall.

Abstract: The present invention provides a soft-tissue prosthesis which is formed from a tubular textile substrate and a liner. The liner is affixed to the intraluminal surface of the tubular textile portion of the soft-tissue prosthesis to form a fluid-tight barrier on the intraluminal surface of the prosthesis. The liner is preferably formed from a polymer. Thus, the soft-tissue prosthesis formed in accordance with the present invention provides the advantages of both a textile prosthesis and a polymer prosthesis.

Abstract: A bio-active material such as heparin, urokinase or streptokinase is bonded via a hydrophilic spacer to a functionality on the surface of a hydrophobic, bio-compatible polymeric substrate to provide a coating of the bio-active material on the surface. The substrate surface is preferably the surface of an implantable medical device such as a vascular graft. An amine and/or hydroxyl functionality on the substrate surface is reacted with an isocyanate group at an end of the hydrophilic spacer to bond the spacer to the substrate, and the bio-active material is reacted with an isocyanate group at another end of the spacer to bond the bio-active material to the spacer. Polymeric substrates include expanded polytetrafluoroethylene and polyethylene terephthalate, and the hydroxyl and/or amine functionality may be provided on the substrate surface by plasma glow discharge. A preferred spacer is an isocyanate end-blocked poly(ethylene oxide).

Abstract: A solid woven tubular prosthesis having sufficient inherent wall stiffness so as to be radially self-supporting. The solid woven prosthesis is capable of being formed with a smooth, continuous inner wall that improves the hemodynamic flow with respect to conventional woven prosthesis, thereby facilitating the flow of fluid therethrough.

Abstract: An implantable microporous ePTFE tubular vascular graft exhibits long-term patency, superior radial tensile strength, reduction in tear propagation, and increases in suture retention strength and crush resistance. The graft includes an ePTFE tubular structure having a preselected microporous structure. The tubular structure is wrapped externally with a PTFE yarn in a helical fashion. The helical wrap of yarn is bonded to the exterior surface of the tubular structure by application of heat or heat in combination with force to form a composite structure which substantially maintains the porosity of the underlying tubular structure while increasing the suture retention strength, radial tensile strength, crush resistance, and tear propagation resistance.

Abstract: A guidewire includes a shaft portion and a tip portion with the tip portion having a plastic tubular coating thereover. The shaft portion of the guidewire has a given diameter and the tip portion has a diameter which decreases towards a distal end thereof. A tubular plastic coating is placed on at least the tip portion of the guidewire. The outer diameter of the coating on the tip portion exceeds the diameter of the shaft portion. The diameter of the plastic coating is reduced so as to be no greater than the diameter of the shaft portion. A hydrophilic coating may be applied over the shaft and the tip portion of the guidewire.

Abstract: A substrate such as a catheter or a guide wire is provided with a lubricous, hydrophilic abrasion-resistant coating by:a) coating said substrate with a first aqueous coating composition comprising an aqueous dispersion or emulsion of a polymer having organic acid functional groups and a polyfunctional crosslinking agent having functional groups being capable of reacting with organic acid groups, and drying the coating to obtain a substantially water-insoluble coating layer still including functional groups being reactive with organic acid groups, andb) contacting the dried coating layer obtained in a) with a second aqueous coating composition comprising an aqueous solution or dispersion of a hydrophilic polymer having organic acid functional groups, and drying the combined coating, the hydrophilic polymer thereby becoming bonded to the polymer of the first coating composition through the crosslinking agent.The drying can be carried out at ambient (room) temperature.

Abstract: A soft and pliable surgical support mesh exhibiting increased resistance to inhabitation of infectious matter. The mesh includes a support trellis formed of multifilament yarns wherein the interstitial voids located between the filaments of said yarns are enclosed within an infection-impervious matrix. The meshes may be designed to be extremely thin yet retain the requisite strength for repairing soft tissue, which allows for a low profile when folded for delivery.