Abstract: An endoluminal prosthesis including a radially expandable support member having interior and exterior surfaces and a wall with openings, a first covering member including a biocompatible polymer material at least partially positioned against the interior surface, and a second covering member including a biocompatible polymer material at least partially positioned against the exterior surface. The first covering member attaches to the second covering member at predetermined bonding locations within less than all of the openings thereby leaving unbonded regions.

Abstract: An endoluminal prosthesis including a radially expandable support member having interior and exterior surfaces and a wall with openings, a first covering member including a biocompatible polymer material at least partially positioned against the interior surface, and a second covering member including a biocompatible polymer material at least partially positioned against the exterior surface. The first covering member attaches to the second covering member at predetermined bonding locations within less than all of the openings thereby leaving unbonded regions.

Abstract: An endoluminal prosthesis including a radially expandable support member having interior and exterior surfaces and a wall with openings, a first covering member including a biocompatible polymer material at least partially positioned against the interior surface, and a second covering member including a biocompatible polymer material at least partially positioned against the exterior surface. The first covering member attaches to the second covering member at predetermined bonding locations within less than all of the openings thereby leaving unbonded regions.

Abstract: An endoluminal prosthesis including a radially expandable support member having interior and exterior surfaces and a wall with openings, a first covering member including a biocompatible polymer material at least partially positioned against the interior surface, and a second covering member including a biocompatible polymer material at least partially positioned against the exterior surface. The first covering member attaches to the second covering member at predetermined bonding locations within less than all of the openings thereby leaving unbonded regions.

Abstract: A system including a longitudinally elongated housing, a member for incremental rotation of a screw, which moves the screw longitudinally, and a longitudinal sheath connected to the screw. The system has a delivery configuration in which a sheath covers a stent bed, and a deployed configuration in which the sheath does not cover the stent bed because manipulation of the member has rotated the screw, which has moved the screw longitudinally, pulling the sheath off of the stent bed.

Abstract: An endoluminal prosthesis including a radially expandable support member having interior and exterior surfaces and a wall with openings, a first covering member including a biocompatible polymer material at least partially positioned against the interior surface, and a second covering member including a biocompatible polymer material at least partially positioned against the exterior surface. The first covering member attaches to the second covering member at predetermined bonding locations within less than all of the openings thereby leaving unbonded regions.

Abstract: A delivery system including an inner catheter with a reinforcing element and an outer catheter having a proximal end attached to a movable member. An abutment element may be attached to a distal end of the reinforcing element, configured to engage an implantable device disposed between the inner catheter and the outer catheter.

Abstract: A method for making a radially expandable stent-graft, including positioning a radially expandable stent member concentrically over a first polymeric member, locating a second polymeric member concentrically over the stent member and first polymeric member, and joining the first polymeric member to the second polymeric member through interstices of the stent member at selective locations to form slip planes between the first and second polymeric members. The slip planes accommodate movement of the stent between the polymeric members to facilitate compression of the stent graft to a low profile.

Abstract: A device includes a tubular substrate and a support member. The support member includes a component that is elastically deformable and elastically recoverable. The support member wraps around and adheres to an abluminal surface of the tubular substrate. The device is adapted for use in an anatomical conduit. For example, the device may be adapted for bypassing an anatomical conduit, for creating an arteriovenous shunt, or as a support structure for maintaining an opening in an anatomical conduit.

Abstract: A method for making an encapsulated stent includes providing first and second ePTFE layers and a stent positioned therebetween. The first ePTFE layer may be unsintered and have a node-fibril microstructure in which the fibrils are oriented perpendicular to the longitudinal axis. The second ePTFE layer may be unsintered and have a node-fibril microstructure in which the fibrils are oriented parallel to the longitudinal axis. The method includes joining the first ePTFE layer to the second ePTFE layer through openings in a wall of the stent.

Abstract: A method for preparing a stent-graft for intraluminal delivery, including positioning an expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (ePTFE) substrate over a support mandrel, coupling a shape memory member to a polymer cladding to form a polymer clad member, winding the polymer clad member in an overlapping helical manner onto a surface of the ePTFE substrate, joining and sealing adjacent overlapping regions of the polymer clad member together and to the surface of the ePTFE substrate to form a stent-graft, manipulating the stent-graft from a larger first diameter to a smaller second diameter, and loading the stent-graft into a restraining sheath at the smaller second diameter.

Abstract: A method for making an encapsulated stent includes providing a first seamless unsintered ePTFE tube, providing a second seamless unsintered ePTFE tube, positioning a balloon-expandable stent between the first and second ePTFE tubes to form an assembly, disposing an ePTFE interlayer member between the first and second ePTFE tubes, and joining the first ePTFE tube to the second ePTFE tube through openings in a wall of the stent by applying first pressure, and then heat, to the assembly.

Abstract: A method for forming a self-expanding stent-graft, including coupling a shape memory member to a polymer cladding to form a polymer clad member, disposing a length of the polymer clad member in an overlapping helical manner about a longitudinal axis, joining and sealing adjacent overlapping regions of the polymer clad member to form a stent-graft, manipulating the stent-graft from a first diameter to a second diameter smaller than the first diameter, and loading the stent-graft into a restraining sheath at the second diameter, the restraining sheath preventing expansion of the stent-graft from the second diameter to the first diameter.

Abstract: A method for forming a self-expanding stent-graft, including coupling a shape memory member to a polymer cladding to form a polymer clad member, winding a length of the polymer clad member about a mandrel so that adjacent windings include regions of polymer cladding that overlap, heating the wound polymer clad member to join and seal the overlapping regions to one another, manipulating the stent-graft from a first diameter to a second diameter smaller than the first diameter, and loading the stent-graft into a restraining sheath, wherein the restraining sheath prevents the stent-graft from reverting to the first diameter.

Abstract: A method for making an encapsulated stent includes providing a first seamless unsintered ePTFE tube, providing a second seamless sintered ePTFE tube, positioning a self-expanding stent between the first and second ePTFE tubes to form an assembly, disposing an ePTFE interlayer member between the first and second ePTFE tubes, and joining the first ePTFE tube to the second ePTFE tube through openings in a wall of the stent by applying first pressure, and then heat, to the assembly.

Abstract: An endoluminal prosthesis including a first polymer member bonded to a second polymer member to selectively encapsulate a stent. Selective bonding between the first and second polymer members results in unbonded regions or pockets that accommodate movement of the stent, permitting compression of the prosthesis using minimal force and enabling collapse of the prosthesis to a low profile. The pockets are believed to encourage enhanced cellular penetration for rapid healing and may contain bioactive substances.

Abstract: A method for making an encapsulated stent includes providing a first seamless unsintered ePTFE tube, providing a second seamless sintered ePTFE tube, positioning a self-expanding stent between the first and second ePTFE tubes to form an assembly, and joining the first ePTFE tube to the second ePTFE tube through openings in a wall of the stent by applying first pressure, and then heat, to the assembly.

Abstract: A method for forming a self-expanding stent-graft. The method includes coupling a shape memory member to a polymer cladding to form a polymer clad member, winding a length of the polymer clad member about a mandrel so that the polymer cladding has overlapping regions that form seams, and heating the wound polymer clad member to join and seal the overlapping regions to one another.

Abstract: An implantable intraluminal device having a self-expanding stent encapsulated between a first and second seamless ePTFE tube. The implantable intraluminal device has a reduced first diametric dimension and an expanded second diametric dimension, and is adapted to be modeled to the in vivo profile of a receiving anatomical structure through radial expansion of at least a portion thereof to a third diametric dimension greater than the second diametric dimension.

Abstract: A method for making an encapsulated stent-graft having an essentially tubular configuration with a central longitudinal lumen and having a first diameter and a second diameter, wherein the first diameter is larger than the second diameter. The stent-graft may include a self-expanding stent and a first and second tube of biocompatible material between which the stent is positioned. The stent-graft may also include an interlayer member between the first and second tube. The method generally includes applying pressure and heat to a stent-graft assembly to form a monolithic layer of biocompatible material around the stent.