Abstract: A composite intraluminal prosthesis which is preferably used as a vascular prothesis includes a layer of ePTFE and a layer of textile material which are secured together by an elastomeric bonding agent. The ePTFE layer includes a porous microstructure defined by nodes interconnected by fibrils. The adhesive bonding agent is preferably applied in solution so that the bonding agent enters the pores of the microstructure of the ePTFE. This helps secure the textile layer to the ePTFE layer.

Abstract: A stent-graft comprising an expandable stent and a plurality of graft segments, each graft segment having a first end attached to the stent and a second end not attached to the stent. In one embodiment, the plurality of overlapped graft segments form a continuous conduit wherein each overlap between axially adjacent graft segments comprises a fluid-tight seal when the stent in the radially expanded configuration sandwiches the graft segments against a wall of a body lumen. In another embodiment, there are one or more discontinuities in the plurality of graft segments. The discontinuities may be aligned with branch lumens. The graft segments may be cut perpendicular to the stent-graft axis, or on a bias. A delivery system for and method of deploying the stent-graft are also claimed.

Abstract: The present invention provides an implantable graft that includes an elongate graft tube having opposing ends defining an attachment site for attaching the graft to a stent. The graft further includes a reinforcement member attached adjacent to at least one of the ends of the graft for establishing a reinforced attachment site for the graft, thereby preventing elongation of a suture hole in the material. Furthermore, the present invention provides a graft wherein at least one end of the graft is folded over itself and glued or sutured to itself and/or the stent, thereby forming a reinforcement thereto.

Abstract: A stent-graft is provided for defining a prosthetic fluid passage within a body lumen. The stent-graft includes a graft having a forward section, and a pilot stent located within the forward section of the graft. The pilot stent has an expanded diameter less than that of a lumen in which it is to be deployed to permit fluid flow within the lumen during deployment of the stent-graft. Means are provided for subsequently expanding the pilot stent and the graft to the full diameter of the lumen.

Abstract: A stent-graft comprising an expandable stent and a plurality of graft segments, each graft segment having a first end attached to the stent and a second end not attached to the stent. In one embodiment, the plurality of overlapped graft segments form a continuous conduit wherein each overlap between axially adjacent graft segments comprises a fluid-tight seal when the stent in the radially expanded configuration sandwiches the graft segments against a wall of a body lumen. In another embodiment, there are one or more discontinuities in the plurality of graft segments. The discontinuities may be aligned with branch lumens. The graft segments may be cut perpendicular to the stent-graft axis, or on a bias. A delivery system for and method of deploying the stent-graft are also claimed.

Abstract: A stent-graft comprising an expandable stent and a plurality of graft segments, each graft segment having a first end attached to the stent and a second end not attached to the stent. In one embodiment, the plurality of overlapped graft segments form a continuous conduit wherein each overlap between axially adjacent graft segments comprises a fluid-tight seal when the stent in the radially expanded configuration sandwiches the graft segments against a wall of a body lumen. In another embodiment, there are one or more discontinuities in the plurality of graft segments. The discontinuities may be aligned with branch lumens. The graft segments may be cut perpendicular to the stent-graft axis, or on a bias. A delivery system for and method of deploying the stent-graft are also claimed.

Abstract: The present invention provides an implantable graft that includes an elongate graft tube having opposing ends defining an attachment site for attaching the graft to a stent. The graft further includes a reinforcement member attached adjacent to at least one of the ends of the graft for establishing a reinforced attachment site for the graft, thereby preventing elongation of a suture hole in the material. Furthermore, the present invention provides a graft wherein at least one end of the graft is folded over itself and glued or sutured to itself and/or the stent, thereby forming a reinforcement thereto.

Abstract: The vascular graft includes a PTFE tube having non-expanded portions formed from sintering a PTFE green tube extrudate. The non-expanded portions are distributed longitudinally along the PTFE tube. The PTFE tube also has expanded portions formed subsequent to the sintering of the PTFE green tube extrudate. The expanded and non-expanded portions are integral with one another, and alternate with one another along the length of the PTFE tube. The expanded and non-expanded portions each have a respective stiffness, where the stiffness of the non-expanded portion is greater than that of the expanded portion.

Abstract: The present invention provides an implantable graft that includes an elongate graft tube having opposing ends defining an attachment site for attaching the graft to a stent. The graft further includes a reinforcement member attached adjacent to at least one of the ends of the graft for establishing a reinforced attachment site for the graft, thereby preventing elongation of a suture hole in the material. Furthermore, the present invention provides a graft wherein at least one end of the graft is folded over itself and glued or sutured to itself and/or the stent, thereby forming a reinforcement thereto.

Abstract: A stent-graft is provided that includes a bifurcated stent adapted for placement at the bifurcation of a bifurcated body lumen. The stent-graft further includes a graft that lines or covers at least part of the bifurcated stent. The graft defines a fluid passageway from the unbifurcated portion into one of the bifurcated stent branches. A closure prevents fluid from flowing through the second of the branches and into the other branch of the body lumen.

Abstract: An implantable, flat-woven multi-petaled graft includes (i) a hollow tubular woven portion having opposed first and second tubular ends, the woven portion having a number of warp yarns interlaced with a number of fill yarns in a flat-woven tubular woven pattern to define a flat-woven tubular diameter, and (ii) a bulbous woven portion having opposed first and second ends, the first bulbous end having a greater number of warp yarns interlaced with the fill yarns in a flat-woven tubular bulbous pattern contiguously woven from the second tubular end to provide a seamless woven, wherein the greater number of warp yarns are threadingly engaged with the fill yarns to define a flat-woven bulbous diameter; wherein the second end of the bulbous portion is scalloped with a plurality of petal-like projections seamlessly woven from the first bulbous end. The graft may include three petal-like projections. The bulbous woven section may be truncated, i.e., hemispherically or hemibulbously shaped.

Abstract: A method of crimping a varied diameter graft is includes the steps of (i) providing a flat-woven tubular graft having an enlarged woven bulbous portion disposed between flat-woven tubular ends, wherein the flat-woven diameter of the bulbous section is greater than the flat woven diameters of the tubular ends; (ii) providing a mandrel shaped and sized to the woven bulbous section and having a curved crimping surface; and (iii) positioning the curved crimping surface within the bulbous woven section so that the bulbous woven section contours to the curved crimping surface.

Abstract: A composite intraluminal prosthesis which is preferably used as a vascular prothesis includes a layer of ePTFE and a layer of textile material which are secured together by an elastomeric bonding agent. The ePTFE layer includes a porous microstructure defined by nodes interconnected by fibrils. The adhesive bonding agent is preferably applied in solution so that the bonding agent enters the pores of the microstructure of the ePTFE. This helps secure the textile layer to the ePTFE layer.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of making a temporarily blood-tight implantable ePTFE material for improved tissue ingrowth and delivery of therapeutic agents comprising providing an ePTFE material having an average internodal distance of 60-200 microns, preparing a biodegradable hydrogel sealant also comprising a therapeutic agent infusing the ePTFE material with the biodegradable hydrogel sealant, and curing the ePTFE material.

Abstract: The present invention provides An implantable ePTFE artificial vascular graft comprising a tubular structure comprising a highly expanded ePTFE material having a porous structure, and a sealant saturated within said porous structure of said ePTFE material to make it substantially non-porous.

Abstract: The vascular graft includes a PTFE tube having non-expanded portions formed from sintering a PTFE green tube extrudate. The non-expanded portions are distributed longitudinally along the PTFE tube. The PTFE tube also has expanded portions formed subsequent to the sintering of the PTFE green tube extrudate. The expanded and non-expanded portions are integral with one another, and alternate with one another along the length of the PTFE tube. The expanded and non-expanded portions each have a respective stiffness, where the stiffness of the non-expanded portion is greater than that of the expanded portion.

Abstract: A stent-graft is provided for defining a prosthetic fluid passage within a body lumen. The stent-graft includes a graft having a forward section, and a pilot stent located within the forward section of the graft. The pilot stent has an expanded diameter less than that of a lumen in which it is to be deployed to permit fluid flow within the lumen during deployment of the stent-graft. Means are provided for subsequently expanding the pilot stent and the graft to the full diameter of the lumen.

Abstract: The present invention provides an implantable graft that includes an elongate graft tube having opposing ends defining an attachment site for attaching the graft to a stent. The graft further includes a reinforcement member attached adjacent to at least one of the ends of the graft for establishing a reinforced attachment site for the graft, thereby preventing elongation of a suture hole in the material. Furthermore, the present invention provides a graft wherein at least one end of the graft is folded over itself and glued or sutured to itself and/or the stent, thereby forming a reinforcement thereto.

Abstract: A method of crimping a varied diameter graft is includes the steps of (i) providing a flat-woven tubular graft having an enlarged woven bulbous portion disposed between flat-woven tubular ends, wherein the flat-woven diameter of the bulbous section is greater than the flat woven diameters of the tubular ends; (ii) providing a mandrel shaped and sized to the woven bulbous section and having a curved crimping surface; and (iii) positioning the curved crimping surface within the bulbous woven section so that the bulbous woven section contours to the curved crimping surface.

Abstract: An implantable, flat-woven multi-petaled graft includes (i) a hollow tubular woven portion having opposed first and second tubular ends, the woven portion having a number of warp yarns interlaced with a number of fill yarns in a flat-woven tubular woven pattern to define a flat-woven tubular diameter, and (ii) a bulbous woven portion having opposed first and second ends, the first bulbous end having a greater number of warp yarns interlaced with the fill yarns in a flat-woven tubular bulbous pattern contiguously woven from the second tubular end to provide a seamless woven, wherein the greater number of warp yarns are threadingly engaged with the fill yarns to define a flat-woven bulbous diameter; wherein the second end of the bulbous portion is scalloped with a plurality of petal-like projections seamlessly woven from the first bulbous end. The graft may include three petal-like projections. The bulbous woven section may be truncated, i.e.