Abstract: A package assembly supports an implantable aortic arch graft in configuration for implantation. The aortic arch graft includes a main tube and plural branch tubes extending therefrom. A blister tray has a blister tray depression formed therein for accommodating the main tube and at least one of the branch tubes of the graft. A blister insert is insertably accommodating within the blister tray. The blister insert includes a blister insert depression formed in one surface thereof for accommodating another of the branch tubes of the graft. The blister insert maintains the branch tubes of the graft, supported by the blister tray, in spaced positioned from the branch tube supported by in the blister insert. A blister cover is removably disposed over the blister tray for covering the blister tray and enclosing the graft and the blister insert within the tray.

Abstract: An implantable microporous ePTFE tubular vascular graft exhibits long term patency, superior radial tensile strength and suture hole elongation resistance. The graft includes a first ePTFE tube and a second ePTFE tube circumferentially disposed over the first tube. The first ePTFE tube exhibits a porosity sufficient to promote cell endothelization tissue ingrowth and healing. The second ePTFE tube exhibits enhanced radial strength in excess of the radial tensile strength of the first tube.

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: Crosslinked compositions formed from a water-insoluble copolymer are disclosed. These compositions are copolymers having a bioresorbable region, a hydrophilic region and at least two crosslinkable functional groups per polymer chain. These compositions are able to form hydrogels in aqueous environments when crosslinked. These hydrogels are good sealants for implantable prostheses when in contact with an aqueous environment. In addition, such hydrogels can be used as delivery vehicles for therapeutic agents.

Abstract: Crosslinked compositions formed from a water-insoluble copolymer are disclosed. These compositions are copolymers having a bioresorbable region, a hydrophilic region and at least two crosslinkable functional groups per polymer chain. These compositions are able to form hydrogels in aqueous environments when crosslinked. These hydrogels are good sealants for implantable prostheses when in contact with an aqueous environment. In addition, such hydrogels can be used as delivery vehicles for therapeutic agents.

Abstract: An implantable microporous ePTFE tubular vascular graft exhibits long term patency, superior radial tensile strength and suture hole elongation resistance. The graft includes a first ePTFE tube and a second ePTFE tube circumferentially disposed over the first tube. The first ePTFE tube exhibits a porosity sufficient to promote cell endothelization tissue ingrowth and healing. The second ePTFE tube exhibits enhanced radial strength in excess of the radial tensile strength of the first tube. The stent provides patency to the endoprosthesis.

Abstract: An implantable intraluminal device includes a multilayer composite tubular device supporting one or more stents between the layer thereof. 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: 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: 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: 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: 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: Disclosed are bio-active coating compositions for polymeric substrates. In particular, a bio-active coating is described which is the reaction product formed by providing a polymer backbone with at least one free isocyanate group, wherein the isocyanate group is pendant from the polymer backbone. There is further provided a hydrophilic, amine-terminated spacer which has at least one amine group at its first and second ends. One of the amine groups of the spacer is reacted with one or more of the isocyanate groups on the polymer backbone in the presence of an optional catalyst agent. A bio-active agent is then covalently bonded onto an unreacted end of the spacer in the presence of a catalyst. Also disclosed are coating compositions for a substrate and methods of preparing same.

Abstract: An improved method is provided for extruding ePTFE tube (12) for use in medical applications. A tube (12) of PTFE is extruded, preferably in an extrusion process, using counter-rotated die components (22, 26). The die component (16) is maintained at a constant temperature during processing. The resulting green tube (12) has enhanced fibrous state formation in a direction perpendicular to the direction of extrusion. The PTFE green tube (12) is then subjected to secondary operations such as stretching and expansion to yield medical product. The ePTFE tube (12) structure is defined by nodes interconnected by elongate fibrils. Both the nodes and fibrils are substantially randomly tilted with respect to the longitudinal axis of the tube (12). This particular structure yields a tube (12) which exhibits a high degree of radial tear strength useful in medical applications.

Abstract: Disclosed are bio-active polymer coatings. More particularly, improved bio-active polymer coating are disclosed which include bio-active molecules attached to polyurethane backbones via amine-terminated spacers. Also disclosed are novel reaction schemes for producing same.

Abstract: Crosslinked compositions formed from a water-insoluble copolymer are disclosed. These compositions are copolymers having a bioresorbable region, a hydrophilic region and at least two crosslinkable functional groups per polymer chain. These compositions are able to form hydrogels in aqueous environments when crosslinked. These hydrogels are good sealants for implantable prostheses when in contact with an aqueous environment. In addition, such hydrogels can be used as delivery vehicles for therapeutic agents.

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 radial 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 bioresorbable sealant composition useful for impregnating implantable soft-tissue prostheses includes at least two polysaccharides in combination to form a hydrogel or sol-gel. The sealant compositions may optionally include a bioactive agent and/or be cross-linked subsequent to application of these compositions to the substrate surface.

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: An implantable intraluminal device includes a first porous elongate tube with first and second opposed ends and 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 the radially expandable member and is secured to the first tube so that the radially expandable member is transversely mobile within a pocket formed by the securement of the first tube to the second tube.

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.