Abstract: A catheter assembly comprising a shaft and at least one flexible radiopaque marker affixed with the shaft. Flexibility of radiopaque marker is achieved by using a segmented band of radiopaque material or a coiled band formed by winding a wire or hollow tube filled with radiopaque material. The flexible radiopaque marker may be affixed with the shaft by an adhesive, by swaging, by crimping, by soldering, or by spring-action tension fit against the shaft.

Abstract: Preparing chemically cross-linked collagenous biological graft material by preparation processes which include the step of altering the locations and/or orientations of chemical cross-linkages formed during the collagen cross-linking process. Embodiments of the method include various processes whereby physical force, stress or movement is applied to alter the relative positioning of the collagen fibers within the graft materials during at least the initial period of exposure to the collagen cross-linking reagent.

Abstract: A vascular graft having a composite structure prepared by wrapping about the external surface of a tube having one or more layers of polytetrafluoroethylene or a polytetrafluoroethylene-elastomeric polymer blend, either alone or in combination, an elastic fiber, while maintaining the fiber under tension. The elastic fibers can be wound about the entire length of the tube while being maintained under the same of different degrees of tension. Furthermore, the elastic fibers may be wound about the tube under a higher degree of tension along locations adjacent the opposite ends the tubing.

Abstract: Biologically compatible materials capable of being formed into implants, comprising layers of poly(tetrafluoroethylene) and mixtures of poly(tetrafluoroethylene) and elastomer, having excellent compliance, strength, elasticity and suturability are disclosed. The materials are preferably prepared as implants or vascular grafts by co-extruding a relatively thin luminal layer of poly(tetrafluoroethylene) having a distinct fibral nodal microstructure within a layer of a mixture of poly(tetrafluoroethylene) and elastomer to impart elasticity to the implant. A preferred embodiment comprises a radially asymmetric composite vascular graft having a luminal layer of poly(tetrafluoroethylene), a second layer of poly(tetrafluoroethylene)/elastomer mixture, a third layer of elastomer, and a fourth layer of a monomer fibrous elastomer matrix with each layer having a distinctive pore size, pore shape and porosity to promote tissue ingrowth and periprosthetic tissue anchoring.