Abstract: A medical assembly includes a balloon expandable endoprosthesis comprising a plurality of ringed stent elements flexibly connected to each other via at least one flexible connector, the endoprosthesis being deployable from an undeployed state with an undeployed diameter to a deployed state with a deployed diameter. The medical assembly further includes a catheter assembly comprising a balloon, and a cover along the balloon. The endoprosthesis is coaxially located about the balloon and the cover. One or more portions of the balloon and the cover reach an intermediate diameter between the undeployed diameter and the deployed diameter in which the portions of the balloon and the cover are inflated by increasing an inflation pressure within the balloon and approximately maintained at about the intermediate diameter until the inflation pressure increases by at least 1 atmosphere to overcome a yield strength of the cover.

Abstract: An open stent (a stent having open space through its thickness at locations between the ends of the stent), incorporating flexible, preferably polymeric, connecting elements into the stent wherein these elements connect adjacent, spaced-apart stent elements. Preferably the spaced-apart adjacent stent elements are the result of forming the stent from a helically wound serpentine wire having space provided between adjacent windings. Other stent forms such as multiple, individual spaced-apart ring-shaped or interconnected stent elements may also be used. The connecting elements are preferably longitudinally oriented.

Abstract: Articles comprising an expanded polytetrafluoroethylene membrane having serpentine fibrils and having a discontinuous coating of a fluoropolymer thereon are provided. The fluoropolymer may be located at least partially in the pores of the expanded fluoropolymer membrane. In exemplary embodiments, the fluoropolymer is fluorinated ethylene propylene. The application of a tensile force at least partially straightens the serpentine fibrils, thereby elongating the article. The expanded polytetrafluoroethylene membrane may include a microstructure of substantially only fibrils. The articles can be elongated to a predetermined point at which further elongation is inhibited by a dramatic increase in stiffness. In one embodiment, the articles are used to form a covered stent device that requires little force to distend in the radial direction to a first diameter but is highly resistant to further distension to a second diameter (stop point).

Abstract: Articles made of a porous material having a fibrillar microstructure of bent fibrils and provided with a fracturable coating whereby the physical size of the article may be changed by the application of force to the article in a direction substantially parallel to a direction of orientation of the fibrils. The application of a tensile force to such an article in a direction substantially parallel to orientation of the bent fibrils results in fracturing of the fracturable material and straightening of the bent fibrils. Methods of making such articles are also described. The articles may include implantable articles such as vascular grafts and stent-grafts; such devices may, for example, be forcibly increased in diameter or in length wherein the force results in fracturing of the coating. One such coated material is porous expanded polytetrafluoroethylene provided with a coating of fluorinated ethylene propylene.

Abstract: Articles comprising an expanded polytetrafluoroethylene membrane having serpentine fibrils and having a discontinuous coating of a fluoropolymer thereon are provided. The fluoropolymer may be located at least partially in the pores of the expanded fluoropolymer membrane. In exemplary embodiments, the fluoropolymer is fluorinated ethylene propylene. The application of a tensile force at least partially straightens the serpentine fibrils, thereby elongating the article. The expanded polytetrafluoroethylene membrane may include a microstructure of substantially only fibrils. The articles can be elongated to a predetermined point at which further elongation is inhibited by a dramatic increase in stiffness. In one embodiment, the articles are used to form a covered stent device that requires little force to distend in the radial direction to a first diameter but is highly resistant to further distension to a second diameter (stop point).

Abstract: Articles comprising an expanded polytetrafluoroethylene membrane having serpentine fibrils and having a discontinuous coating of a fluoropolymer thereon are provided. The fluoropolymer may be located at least partially in the pores of the expanded fluoropolymer membrane. In exemplary embodiments, the fluoropolymer is fluorinated ethylene propylene. The application of a tensile force at least partially straightens the serpentine fibrils, thereby elongating the article. The expanded polytetrafluoroethylene membrane may include a microstructure of substantially only fibrils. The articles can be elongated to a predetermined point at which further elongation is inhibited by a dramatic increase in stiffness. In one embodiment, the articles are used to form a covered stent device that requires little force to distend in the radial direction to a first diameter but is highly resistant to further distension to a second diameter (stop point).

Abstract: A vascular graft incorporating a stent into a portion of its length. While various materials may be used for the vascular graft, the graft is preferably an ePTFE graft. The stent is preferably a self-expanding stent, although it may alternatively be a balloon expandable stent. The vascular graft preferably has a continuous inner tubular liner that extends between the opposing ends of the graft and provides a continuous luminal surface for blood contact that is uninterrupted by seams or joints. The length portion of the graft that does not include the stent has a greater wall thickness than does the portion including the stent.

Abstract: A vascular graft incorporating a stent into a portion of its length. While various materials may be used for the vascular graft, the graft is preferably an ePTFE graft. The stent is preferably a self-expanding stent, although it may alternatively be a balloon expandable stent. The vascular graft preferably has a continuous inner tubular liner that extends between the opposing ends of the graft and provides a continuous luminal surface for blood contact that is uninterrupted by seams or joints. The length portion of the graft that does not include the stent has a greater wall thickness than does the portion including the stent.

Abstract: The present disclosure includes an endoprosthesis delivery system comprising an elongate member, such as a catheter, an endoprosthesis, a covering member disposed about the endoprosthesis, a tip, and an end cap. The tip and end cap can be integral to each other. The covering member can extend beyond the distal end of the endoprosthesis and onto the end cap. The end cap can comprise a tapered profile, which may assist in retraction of the catheter tip and end cap into an outer sheath. The end cap can further comprise one or more fins.

Abstract: A vascular graft incorporating a stent into a portion of its length. While various materials may be used for the vascular graft, the graft is preferably an ePTFE graft. The stent is preferably a self-expanding stent, although it may alternatively be a balloon expandable stent. The vascular graft preferably has a continuous inner tubular liner that extends between the opposing ends of the graft and provides a continuous luminal surface for blood contact that is uninterrupted by seams or joints. The length portion of the graft that does not include the stent has a greater wall thickness than does the portion including the stent.

Abstract: A vascular graft incorporating a stent into a portion of its length. While various materials may be used for the vascular graft, the graft is preferably an ePTFE graft. The stent is preferably a self-expanding stent, although it may alternatively be a balloon expandable stent. The vascular graft preferably has a continuous inner tubular liner that extends between the opposing ends of the graft and provides a continuous luminal surface for blood contact that is uninterrupted by seams or joints. The length portion of the graft that does not include the stent has a greater wall thickness than does the portion including the stent.

Abstract: A vascular graft incorporating a stent into a portion of its length. While various materials may be used for the vascular graft, the graft is preferably an ePTFE graft. The stent is preferably a self-expanding stent, although it may alternatively be a balloon expandable stent. The vascular graft preferably has a continuous inner tubular liner that extends between the opposing ends of the graft and provides a continuous luminal surface for blood contact that is uninterrupted by seams or joints. The length portion of the graft that does not include the stent has a greater wall thickness than does the portion including the stent.

Abstract: Articles comprising an expanded polytetrafluoroethylene membrane having serpentine fibrils and having a discontinuous coating of a fluoropolymer thereon are provided. The fluoropolymer may be located at least partially in the pores of the expanded fluoropolymer membrane. In exemplary embodiments, the fluoropolymer is fluorinated ethylene propylene. The application of a tensile force at least partially straightens the serpentine fibrils, thereby elongating the article. The expanded polytetrafluoroethylene membrane may include a microstructure of substantially only fibrils. The articles can be elongated to a predetermined point at which further elongation is inhibited by a dramatic increase in stiffness. In one embodiment, the articles are used to form a covered stent device that requires little force to distend in the radial direction to a first diameter but is highly resistant to further distension to a second diameter (stop point).

Abstract: A stent-graft having a smaller compacted diameter suitable to allow the stent-graft to be transported through a body conduit to a desired site. The stent-graft is deployed at the desired site by self-expanding to a first larger diameter from the smaller compacted diameter. The stent-graft has at least one flared end when self-expanded to the first larger diameter. The stent graft is further diametrically expandable by the application of force such as the inflation of a catheter balloon within the stent-graft to a still larger, maximum second diameter that is equal to about the maximum diameter of the flared end.

Abstract: A vascular graft incorporating a stent into a portion of its length. While various materials may be used for the vascular graft, the graft is preferably an ePTFE graft. The stent is preferably a self-expanding stent, although it may alternatively be a balloon expandable stent. The vascular graft preferably has a continuous inner tubular liner that extends between the opposing ends of the graft and provides a continuous luminal surface for blood contact that is uninterrupted by seams or joints. The length portion of the graft that does not include the stent has a greater wall thickness than does the portion including the stent.

Abstract: The present disclosure includes an endoprosthesis delivery system comprising an elongate member, such as a catheter, an endoprosthesis, a covering member disposed about the endoprosthesis, and at least one flexible element situated between the endoprosthesis and the covering member. The covering member can extend beyond an end of the endoprosthesis. In operation, as the covering member is removed, the flexible element can guide the covering member over the end of the endoprosthesis to prevent entanglement between the end of the endoprosthesis and the covering member.

Abstract: Articles made of a porous material having a fibrillar microstructure of bent fibrils and provided with a fracturable coating whereby the physical size of the article may be changed by the application of force to the article in a direction substantially parallel to a direction of orientation of the fibrils. The application of a tensile force to such an article in a direction substantially parallel to orientation of the bent fibrils results in fracturing of the fracturable material and straightening of the bent fibrils. Methods of making such articles are also described. The articles may include implantable articles such as vascular grafts and stent-grafts; such devices may, for example, be forcibly increased in diameter or in length wherein the force results in fracturing of the coating. One such coated material is porous expanded polytetrafluoroethylene provided with a coating of fluorinated ethylene propylene.

Abstract: The present invention comprises a highly conformable stent graft with an optional portal for a side branch device. Said stent graft comprises a graft being supported by a stent, wherein said stent comprises undulations each which comprise apices in opposing first and second directions and a tape member attached to said stent and to said graft such that the tape member edge is aligned to the edge of the apices in the first direction of the each of the undulations, thus confining the apices in the first direction of the undulations to the graft and wherein the apices in the second direction of the undulation are not confined relative to the graft; wherein said graft forms unidirectional pleats where longitudinally compressed and wherein said apices in the first direction of said undulation is positioned under an adjacent pleat when compressed. The invention also discloses and claims methods of making and using said highly conformable stent graft and method of making the optional portal.

Abstract: A vascular graft incorporating a stent into a portion of its length. While various materials may be used for the vascular graft, the graft is preferably an ePTFE graft. The stent is preferably a self-expanding stent, although it may alternatively be a balloon expandable stent. The vascular graft preferably has a continuous inner tubular liner that extends between the opposing ends of the graft and provides a continuous luminal surface for blood contact that is uninterrupted by seams or joints. The length portion of the graft that does not include the stent has a greater wall thickness than does the portion including the stent.

Abstract: An open stent (a stent having open space through its thickness at locations between the ends of the stent), incorporating flexible, preferably polymeric, connecting elements into the stent wherein these elements connect adjacent, spaced-apart stent elements. Preferably the spaced-apart adjacent stent elements are the result of forming the stent from a helically wound serpentine wire having space provided between adjacent windings. Other stent forms such as multiple, individual spaced-apart ring-shaped or interconnected stent elements may also be used. The connecting elements are preferably longitudinally oriented.