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: An implantable composite medical device having a longitudinal length a woven textile portion having yarns interlaced in a woven pattern, a knitted textile portion having yarns interlooped in a knitted pattern. The woven and knitted portions are securably attached to one and the other to provide a composite woven and knitted textile surface along the longitudinal length of the device. The woven portion may have a permeability from about 30 to about 500 ml/min/cm2, and the knitted portion may have a permeability from about 30 to about 15,000 ml/min/cm2. Further, a crimped woven portion with a resiliently longitudinal stretchability from about 10 to about 100 linear percent over its quiescent longitudinal dimension or an uncrimped woven portion with a resiliently longitudinal stretchability of less than about 10 linear percent over its quiescent longitudinal dimension are useful.

Abstract: An implantable composite medical device having a longitudinal length a woven textile portion having yarns interlaced in a woven pattern, a knitted textile portion having yarns interlooped in a knitted pattern. The woven and knitted portions are securably attached to one and the other to provide a composite woven and knitted textile surface along the longitudinal length of the device. The woven portion may have a permeability from about 30 to about 500 ml/min/cm2, and the knitted portion may have a permeability from about 30 to about 15,000 ml/min/cm2. Further, a crimped woven portion with a resiliently longitudinal stretchability from about 10 to about 100 linear percent over its quiescent longitudinal dimension or an uncrimped woven portion with a resiliently longitudinal stretchability of less than about 10 linear percent over its quiescent longitudinal dimension are useful.

Abstract: Methods of making multi-furcated grafts and, more particularly, a bifurcated graft from at least one ePTFE member are provided. Also provided are grafts made according to such methods.

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: The present invention provides an expanded tubular graft formed of expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (ePTFE). The graft has first and second open ends and a surface longitudinally extending between the ends. The graft also includes an inner and outer cylindrical walls, where the walls have crimps or corrugations located along the surface of the graft. Additionally, the graft is coated with biocompatible elastomer covering portions of the outer cylindrical walls of the PTFE graft. The resulting ePTFE crimped graft exhibits various enhanced properties, such as adjustable graft length, high kink resistance, improved suture retention and high crush resistance as compared to the same graft without the crimps.

Abstract: A method of making an ePTFE tubular structure includes the steps of (a) forming a tube of polytetrafluoroethylene; (b) longitudinally stretching the polytetrafluoroethylene tube to form an expanded polytetrafluoroethylene tube, where the expanded polytetrafluoroethylene tube includes fibrils oriented in a longitudinal direction of the tube and nodes oriented in a circumferential direction of the tube; and (c) placing the expanded polytetrafluoroethylene tube circumferentially exterior to a longitudinal foreshortening and radially expanding mechanism, where radial pressure from the foreshortening mechanism radially expands the ePTFE tubular structure and reorients the fibrils non-longitudinally.

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 composite intraluminal prosthesis which is preferably used as a vascular prosthesis 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: An elastomerically recoverable PTFE material is provided including a longitudinally compressed fibrils of ePTFE material penetrated by elastomeric material within the pores defining the elastomeric matrix. The elastomeric matrix and the compressed fibrils cooperatively expand and recover without plastic deformation of the ePTFE material. The material may be used for various prosthesis, such as a vascular a prosthesis like a patch, a graft and an implantable tubular stent. Further, a method of producing the elastomerically recoverable PTFE material is provided herein.

Abstract: The ePTFE structure includes an ePTFE tubular structure having opposite ends and a longitudinal axis. The ePTFE tubular structure is formed from rotating the opposite ends relative to one another in a direction of rotation about the longitudinal axis. The ePTFE tubular structure has a node and fibril micro-structure in which substantially all of the fibrils are oriented in the direction of rotation.

Abstract: An implantable composite medical device having a longitudinal length a woven textile portion having yarns interlaced in a woven pattern, a knitted textile portion having yarns interlooped in a knitted pattern. The woven and knitted portions are securably attached to one and the other to provide a composite woven and knitted textile surface along the longitudinal length of the device. The woven portion may have a permeability from about 30 to about 500 ml/min/cm2, and the knitted portion may have a permeability from about 30 to about 15,000 ml/min/cm2. Further, a crimped woven portion with a resiliently longitudinal stretchability from about 10 to about 100 linear percent over its quiescent longitudinal dimension or an uncrimped woven portion with a resiliently longitudinal stretchability of less than about 10 linear percent over its quiescent longitudinal dimension are useful.

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: An implantable composite medical device having a longitudinal length a woven textile portion having yarns interlaced in a woven pattern, a knitted textile portion having yarns interlooped in a knitted pattern. The woven and knitted portions are securably attached to one and the other to provide a composite woven and knitted textile surface along the longitudinal length of the device. The woven portion may have a permeability from about 30 to about 500 ml/min/cm2, and the knitted portion may have a permeability from about 30 to about 15,000 ml/min/cm2. Further, a crimped woven portion with a resiliently longitudinal stretchability from about 10 to about 100 linear percent over its quiescent longitudinal dimension or an uncrimped woven portion with a resiliently longitudinal stretchability of less than about 10 linear percent over its quiescent longitudinal dimension are useful.

Abstract: The vascular graft includes a conduit structure having outer and inner wall surfaces. The conduit structure includes a longitudinal central portion having a flexibility. The conduit structure further includes a pair of longitudinal intermediate portions each of which are integral with the central portion and located longitudinally such that the central portion is between the intermediate portions. The intermediate portions each have a flexibility which is less than the flexibility of the central portion.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a prosthetic structure, including a densified layer of expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (ePTFE) and a method for manufacturing the same. The invention includes the steps of providing a layer of ePTFE, desirably a tubular layer; applying the layer of ePTFE to a mandrel; mechanically compressing the layer of ePTFE on the mandrel; and removing the compressed ePTFE; where the compressed ePTFE is denser than uncompressed ePTFE. The compressed ePTFE has a water entry pressure (WEP) value of at least 15 psi, and desirably a WEP of at least about 20 psi.

Abstract: A method of forming a composite textile and ePTFE implantable device includes the steps of (a) providing an ePTFE layer having opposed surfaces comprising a microporous structure of nodes interconnected by fibrils; (b) providing a textile layer having opposed surfaces; (c) applying a coating of an elastomeric bonding agent to one of the opposed surfaces of the ePTFE layer or the textile layer; (d) providing a hollow member having an open end and an opposed closed end defining a fluid passageway therebetween and having a wall portion with at least one hole extending therethrough, the hole being in fluid communication with the fluid passageway; (e) concentrically placing the ePTFE layer and the textile layer onto the hollow member and over the at least one hole of the hollow member to provide an interior composite layer and an exterior composite layer, thereby defining a composite assembly, wherein the interior composite layer is one of the ePTFE layer or the textile layer and the exterior composite layer is th

Abstract: A method for making a vascular graft includes providing a PTFE green tube extrudate which is un-sintered, and then initially expanding the un-sintered extrudate to produce an initial node and fibril micro-structure therein. This is followed by heating the extrudate to raise the temperature thereof for a time period of sufficient duration such that the extrudate is partially sintered. The partially sintered extrudate is subsequently expanded to make the vascular graft. The subsequent expansion produces a subsequent node and fibril micro-structure in the vascular graft. An alternative method for making a vascular graft includes providing a PTFE green tube extrudate which is un-sintered, longitudinally expanding the un-sintered extrudate to form an ePTFE tube structure, and radially expanding the un-sintered ePTFE tube structure. ePTFE made according to the method is fabricated into various structures, such as tube structures, filament structures, and sheet structures.