Abstract: An extrusion device is described herein, including an inventive die and mandrel that enable the production, using a conventional ram extruder, of strong coherent extremely thin-walled tubes having a wall thickness in the range of about 0.020 mm and about 0.080 mm.

Abstract: A self-sealing vascular graft with kink resistance is described. The vascular graft includes a substrate that can be ePTFE, having a self-sealing region that may include several layers of material. The central section of the vascular graft may be constructed differently from surrounding self-sealing regions, in order to provide kink resistance following the clamping of the graft. Also described is a graft with a flared cuff attached to one or both ends, the attachment or transition region including reinforcement beading.

Abstract: An extrusion device is described herein, including an inventive die and mandrel that enable the production, using a conventional ram extruder, of strong coherent extremely thin-walled tubes having a wall thickness in the range of about 0.020 mm and about 0.080 mm.

Abstract: A self-sealing vascular graft with kink resistance is described. The vascular graft includes a substrate that can be a PTFE, having a self-sealing region that may include several layers of material. The central section of the vascular graft may be constructed differently from surrounding self-sealing regions, in order to provide kink resistance following the clamping of the graft. Also described is a graft with a flared cuff attached to one or both ends, the attachment or transition region including reinforcement beading.

Abstract: The stent-graft described herein generally includes a substrate, a helix disposed about the substrate, a covering disposed over at least a portion of the helix, and a support member coupled to the covering.

Abstract: An implantable prosthesis includes a scaffold with a plurality of expandable segments axially spaced apart along a substrate, adjacent segments connected by one or more support members when the prosthesis is in a collapsed configuration and disconnected when the prosthesis is in an expanded configuration.

Abstract: A composite implantable prosthesis including a scaffold with a plurality of axially spaced apart sections connected by one or more bridges, each bridge including one or more hinges. The material of the bridges is generally distinct from the material of the scaffold.

Abstract: A self-sealing vascular graft with kink resistance is described. The vascular graft includes a substrate that can be a PTFE, having a self-sealing region that may include several layers of material. The central section of the vascular graft may be constructed differently from surrounding self-sealing regions, in order to provide kink resistance following the clamping of the graft. Also described is a graft with a flared cuff attached to one or both ends, the attachment or transition region including reinforcement beading.

Abstract: An implantable prosthesis including a longitudinally compressed generally tubular substrate defining a longitudinal axis, a plurality of expandable segments disposed over the substrate and spaced apart along the longitudinal axis, and a graft member positioned over the segments. The graft member may include a lattice structure. Adjacent expandable segments may be connected by one or more filaments.

Abstract: An implantable prosthesis, including a generally tubular substrate and a continuous shape memory member disposed over the outer surface of the substrate. The shape memory member may include a series of zig-zag struts alternating between a first strut with a first length and a second strut with a second length different from the first length. A graft member may be positioned over the substrate and shape memory member.

Abstract: Human cadaver tissues have been used for many years to replace tissues in the body. These replacements not only include such well known organ transplants such as the heart and kidneys, they also involve soft tissue grafts such as tendons and arteries, and hard tissue grafts such as bone. It is desirable for these tissue grafts to be cleaned and sterilized. The basic technology to be utilized for this audible acoustic tissue cleaning process is the use of sound in a range audible to the human ear (20 Hz to 20,000 Hz) to provide the cleansing force necessary to clean and sterilize tissue grafts to be implanted into the human body. Another use of this technology is to clean and treat contaminated bone fragments from compound fractures. Another aspect of this audible acoustic tissue cleaning process is the use of relatively pure oxygen (50 to 100%) under pressure to treat the tissue grafts at 2 to 10 degrees Celsius.

Abstract: A one-piece or unitarily constructed composite plastic catheter and cannula arrangement and method of producing the arrangement, having a suitably coated needle point which is thereby facilitated for insertion thereof into the vein or body of a patient, whereby the arrangement of an inexpensively produced construction renders the composite catheter and cannula structure of a nature adapted to be readily disposable after only a single use and therefore economically viable, especially for undeveloped or developing countries or regions.

Abstract: A safety cover, which securably and reliably prevents the readvancement of the tip of a cannula once it has been retracted thereinto, is designed having an elongate body which includes an axial channel having elements which displace and block linear passage of the cannula once it has been retracted. In a first embodiment the displacing elements are inwardly and rearwardly extending bristles which provide for unidirectional motion of the cannula relative to the safety cover, thereby locking the cannula once it has been retracted. In a second embodiment, the displacing element is the axial channel itself which has a curvate bias and distorts into a non-linear path once the cannula is retracted. In a third embodiment, the displacing element is a spring plate which, when compressed permits the cannula to pass through, but once the cannula has been retracted, expands to prevent the tip from being readvanced.

Abstract: A catheter needle tip protector and a safety mechanism which provides fail/save protection to clinical personnel against the possibility of accidental punctures by a used intravenous (IV) needle through the provision of automatic catheter needle tip protecting structure which becomes operative upon withdrawal of the needle from the body of a patient.

Abstract: An intravenous catheter insertion devices, and in particular an extruded plastic blood sealing gasket for a blood chamber of the safety catheter. A cannula extends through the blood gasket with the assurance of a seal being present therebetween during relative sliding movement between the cannula and the blood gasket. Moreover, disclosed is a method of forming a blown-in-place extruded plastic gasket for a safety catheter adapted to slidingly receiving a cannula in sealing engagement therewith in a simple and inexpensively produced manner.

Abstract: Intravenous catheter insertion devices produced by a low cost method of assembling a catheter structure and cannula holder body. Also disclosed is an extruded cannula and blood chamber securement structure. Moreover, there is also provided a novel structure for the realization of simplified extruded catheter insertion devices in which an extruded plastic element is connected with a steel cannula for attachment to a blood chamber or housing to enable a low cost construction rendering the catheter insertion device simple and inexpensive in assembly and construction for economically disposable single usage thereof.

Abstract: A catheter insertion device incorporating a simple lever and clip structure which will safely lock a catheter hub of a catheter assembly to a normally disposable cannula housing and guard structure and which, in a simple mode, enables separation of the catheter hub from the cannula assembly or structure upon retraction and protective guarding of the used cannula. Specifically, an aspect resides in providing the lever release clip for a safety catheter which upon unlocking and releasing of the catheter hub concurrently pushes the catheter hub off a nose guard of the cannula assembly, while enabling a physician or clinical personnel to release the catheter by employing only one hand. A further embodiment is adapted to enable separation between the catheter hub of a flexible catheter and the needle or cannula arrangement of a catheter insertion device by simply manipulating a lever arranged on a cannula structure or nose guard thereof by simply pushing against a push-tab element.

Abstract: A safety cover which securably and reliably locks the tip of a cannula in an interior chamber within the safety cover. The cover comprises an elongate body having the interior chamber and an axial through hole which extends along the entire length of the body, through the interior chamber and through which the cannula is slidably received. Displacing elements are positioned within the interior chamber, each of which includes a hole for receiving said cannula therethrough, and which displaces upon retraction of the tip of said cannula, thereby preventing subsequent advancement of said cannula tip. In a first embodiment the displacing elements are annular rings. In a second embodiment, the elements are rigid balls having through holes. In a third embodiment, the displacing elements are a pair of conical elements, one of which is spring biased, each of which includes an offset hole.

Abstract: A catheter assembly comprising a catheter attached to a catheter hub, a cannula insertable into the catheter through the catheter hub and a tip guard providing automatic protection of the cannula tip and automatic locking and releasing of the tip guard form the catheter hub. The tip guard includes a base and a plurality of resilient fingers extending from the base which are adapted to flex radially outwardly to allow the cannula to be inserted in the hub and which return to the spring biased position when the cannula is withdrawn from the catheter into the guard to secure the catheter within the guard. A detent on the distal ends of the fingers engages corresponding recesses in the catheter hub to lock the tip guard in the hub when the cannula is inserted through the guard.

Abstract: A catheter needle tip protector and a safety mechanism which provides fail-safe protection for clinical personnel against the possibility of accidental punctures by a used IV cannular needle through automatic catheter needle tip protecting structure operative upon withdrawal of the cannular from a venipuncture the body of a patient.