Abstract: A non-braided suture and methods of making and using the same are disclosed. The suture can be woven, for example, from warp yarns and a fill yarn. The suture can have a sheath. The sheath can have a lubricious coating on the inside and the outside of the sheath. The suture can have a textured surface. The suture can furcate. Methods of using the suture are also disclosed.

Abstract: A one-way valve suitable for implant in the human vascular system is disclosed. The valve is formed by a tube of braided filaments and has an upstream end supported in an open configuration by a radial support. The valve has a downstream portion formed by a plurality of flexible leaflets resiliently biased into a closed configuration sealing the valve. The leaflets separate under pressure to allow fluid flow downstream but close in response to back pressure to prevent retrograde flow. The leaflets are biased by internal elastic forces within the filaments or by means of a resilient flexible membrane. To prevent collapse of leaflets under relatively high back pressure, elongated support columns are arranged lengthwise along the tube. A second radial support is provided downstream to support the columns. Fasteners are positioned circumferentially around the tube to anchor the valve within the lumen of the vascular vessel.

Abstract: A bag for use in the intravascular treatment of saccular aneurysms and a method of forming the bag are disclosed. The bag is formed from a plurality of flexible, resilient filamentary members braided into a tubular sleeve and biased into a first shape having an expanded first diameter sized to substantially fill the aneurysm. The bag is resiliently deformable into a second shape having a diameter smaller than the first and sized to slidingly interfit within the lumen of a catheter. An opening is provided in the bag to receive a clotting medium, such as a platinum wire, on which blood clots can be induced to form by mechanical or electrolytic means. The opening is urged to a closed position by resiliently biasing the filamentary members. In use the, bag is inserted into a saccular aneurysm via the catheter and expands to its first diameter upon release therefrom.

Abstract: An intraluminal filter for vascular use during medical procedures is disclosed. The filter is formed of a plurality of flexible, resilient monofilament wires interbraided in a relatively open mesh forming a basket with a plurality of multifilament yarns braided in a relatively closed mesh having a predetermined porosity forming a filter element. The filter element is positioned distally of the basket forming a concave portion, the remaining portion of the basket being unobstructed and forming openings facing the concave portion. The filter is elastically deformable between two shape states, the first having a small diameter enabling the filter to slide within the bore of a catheter for positioning the filter in the lumen of an artery, the second shape state having a substantially larger diameter sized to sealingly interfit within the artery lumen. The filter is biased and will expand upon release from the catheter to the second shape state.

Abstract: An intraluminal filter for vascular use during medical procedures is disclosed. The filter is formed of a plurality of flexible, resilient monofilament wires interbraided in a relatively open mesh forming a basket with a plurality of multifilament yarns braided in a relatively closed mesh having a predetermined porosity forming a filter element. The filter element is positioned distally of the basket forming a concave portion, the remaining portion of the basket being unobstructed and forming openings facing the concave portion. The filter is elastically deformable between two shape states, the first having a small diameter enabling the filter to slide within the bore of a catheter for positioning the filter in the lumen of an artery, the second shape state having a substantially larger diameter sized to sealingly interfit within the artery lumen. The filter is biased and will expand upon release from the catheter to the second shape state.

Abstract: A bag for use in the intravascular treatment of saccular aneurysms and a method of forming the bag are disclosed. The bag is formed from a plurality of flexible, resilient filamentary members braided into a tubular sleeve and biased into a first shape having an expanded first diameter sized to substantially fill the aneurysm. The bag is resiliently deformable into a second shape having a diameter smaller than the first and sized to slidingly interfit within the lumen of a catheter. An opening is provided in the bag to receive a clotting medium, such as a platinum wire, on which blood clots can be induced to form by mechanical or electrolytic means. A closure is provided by biasing the filamentary members to form a constriction around the opening. In use the, bag is inserted into a saccular aneurysm via the catheter and expands to its first diameter upon release therefrom.

Abstract: A method of forming a textile having an undulating wire member therein. The method includes forming a wire which exhibits shape memory behavior into an undulating wire member, training the wire to remember its shape, causing the undulating wire member to straighten by undergoing a shape-memory transformation, securing the straightened wire member in a conventional textile and then causing the straightened wire to undergo a shape memory transformation back to the remembered undulating shape.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a woven textile having a structural member integrally woven therein. The structural member may be either straight or an undulating member which, although straight when secured to the textile, is trained to undergo a shape memory transformation back to its remembered undulating shape. The structural member is secured to the woven textile by displacing one or more given warp yarns in a first direction to create a structural member receiving gap, inserting the structural member into the gap by passing a structural member-insertion shuttle therethrough, and thereafter returning the displaced warp yarn or yarns to secure the structural member.

Abstract: A combined stent/graft structure for repair of a body tube in a living body. The structure includes a textile graft adapted to enhance fluid integrity of the body tube and a stent expandable between a first position permitting easy insertion of the stent into the body tube and a second position wherein the stent presses securely against the inside surface of the body tube. The stent includes a first elongate wire-shaped stent member with both a stent member global axis and a stent member local axis, and is integrally secured to the graft by at least one graft yarn of which the graft is formed. Substantial portions of the first stent member global axis form a non-orthogonal angle with the graft main portion axis when projected into a plane containing the graft main portion axis. A woven textile is also part of the invention as is a method of manufacturing such a woven textile, which can be used to produce stent/graft structures according to the invention.

Abstract: Embodiments of weaving shuttles are disclosed which are adapted for use in producing woven textile structures. The shuttles may be used to dispense weft yarns when weaving with a loom, and are particularly adapted to insert a wire-like structural member integrally into the woven textile.