Abstract: A graft prostheses (11), materials and method for implanting, transplanting, replacing, or repairing a part of a patient. The graft prosthesis includes a purified, collagen-based matrix structure delaminaetd from a submucosa tissue source. The submucosa tissue source is purified to remove contaminants, thereby making the purified and delaminated structure biocompatible and suitable for grafting on and/or in a patient.

Abstract: A stent having a multi-layered coating adhered to its surface which can prevent restenosis and thrombosis at the implant site. The stent coating is comprised of two layers. The first layer is a polymeric coating with one or more biologically active agent(s) dispersed therein. The second layer is comprised of a hydrophobic heparinized polymer that inhibits blood coagulation and provides a hydrophilic surface for reducing the friction between stent and lesion site. In preferred embodiments of the invention, the multi-layered stent is effective in deterring restenosis and thrombosis at the implant site. In these same preferred embodiments, the multi-layered stent is capable of reducing the burst release of the biologically active agents from the first layer and sustaining a release of an effective amount of these agents for a relatively extended period of time. Methods of applying the multi-layered coating to the stent surface are also part of this invention.

Abstract: One aspect of the present invention provides implantable medical devices that comprise: (a) a device body; and (b) a surface layer attached to at least a portion of the device body, the surface layer comprising: (1) a surface layer body that defines an internal surface attached to the device body, and an external surface; and (2) a multiplicity of blood vessels disposed within the surface layer body, the blood vessels opening onto the external face of the surface layer body. The present invention also provides synthetic biocompatible materials, methods for making synthetic biocompatible materials, and methods for making implantable medical devices.

Abstract: The invention is directed to bioengineered graft prostheses prepared from cleaned tissue material derived from animal sources. The bioengineered graft prostheses of the invention are prepared using methods that preserve cell compatibility, strength, and bioremodelability of the processed tissue matrix. The bioengineered graft prostheses are used for implantation, repair, or use in a mammalian host.

Abstract: The invention is directed to bioengineered vascular graft support prostheses prepared from cleaned tissue material derived from animal sources. The bioengineered graft prostheses of the invention are prepared using methods that preserve cell compatibility, strength, and bioremodelability of the processed tissue matrix. The bioengineered graft prostheses are used for implantation, repair, or for use in a mammalian host.

Abstract: A stent mounting device and a method of coating a stent using the device are provided.

Abstract: A biomaterial is provided which is suitable for use in surgery in a human patient. It includes a coherent layer of non-human collagenous tissue which has been subjected to glutaraldehyde tanning so as to include cross-linked collagen fibrils, and a reinforcement of synthetic material embedded within the coherent layer. The synthetic material has structure features for promoting the embedding, the synthetic material having on average in situ more than 50 of the features per square centimeter.

Abstract: A support device for a stent and a method of coating a stent using the device are provided.

Abstract: A crosslinkable macromer system and related methods of preparing the system and using the system in the form of a crosslinked matrix between a tissue site and an implant article such as a tissue implant or on the porous surface of a prosthetic device. The macromer system includes two or more polymer-pendent polymerizable groups and one or more initiator groups (e.g., polymer-pendent initiator groups). The polymerizable groups and the initiator group(s), when polymer-pendent, can be pendent on the same or different polymeric backbones. The macromer system provides advantages over the use of polymerizable macromers and separate, low molecular weight initiators, including advantages with respect to such properties as nontoxicity, efficiency, and solubility. A macromer system of the invention can be used as an interface between the tissue site and implant article in a manner sufficient to permit tissue growth through the crosslinked matrix and between the tissue site and implant.

Abstract: A method of depositing collagen coatings on a metal surface, namely metal stents, by electrodeposition.

Abstract: A graft compatible with living animal tissue is disclosed. The graft has attachment regions with means for promoting growth of living animal tissue across the attachment regions to form a biological seal between the graft and the tissue. The means for promoting growth include locating pores in the attachment regions sized to favor growth of the tissue, increasing the surface area of the attachment regions by forming filamentary loops extending from the attachment regions, forming the attachment regions from textured filaments, forming the attachment regions from materials which elicit a healing reaction in living animal tissue or coating the attachment regions with a compound such as thrombin or collagen which promotes healing of the tissue.

Abstract: This invention provides compositions and methods for producing a medical device coated with a matrix and an antibody which reacts with an endothelial cell antigen. The matrix coating the medical device may be composed of synthetic material, such as polyurethane, poly-L-lactic acid, cellulose ester or polyethylene glycol. In another embodiment, the matrix is composed of naturally occurring materials, such as collagen, fibrin, elastin, amorphous carbon. In a third embodiment, the matrix may be composed of fullerenes. The fullerenes range from about C60 to about C100. The medical device may be a stent or a synthetic graft. The antibodies promote adherence of endothelial cells on the medical device. The antibodies may be mixed with the matrix or covalently tethered through a linker molecule to the matrix. Following adherence to the medical device, the endothelial cells differentiate and proliferate on the medical device. The antibodies may be different types of monoclonal antibodies.

Abstract: A vascular graft comprised of a tubular polytetrafluoroethylene (ePTFE) sheet. The ePTFE sheet has a substantially uniform coating of bioresorbable gel material on an outer surface. The coating minimizes bleeding through suture holes in the ePTFE sheet and an increase in longitudinal extensibility.

Abstract: This invention is directed to a method of treating a patient with diseased or damaged organs comprising administering to said patient a bioremodelable collagen-containing material which promotes the production of structural collagen, vascularization and epithelialization by the ingrowth of patient cells, wherein the material undergoes controlled biodegradation occurring with adequate living cell replacement such that the original implanted graft is bioremodeled by the patient's living cells.

Abstract: Collagen applied to a vascular stent for increasing the biocompatability of the stent on implantation and method of treatment.

Abstract: There is described a bio-compatible aqueous slurry for forming a fluid-tight barrier on a surface of a porous implantable article. This aqueous slurry includes a self-aggregating protein comminutate having a substantially uniform particle size, a bio-compatible plasticizer and water. This aqueous slurry is further characterized by having a viscosity of about 8,000 centipoise to about 60,000 centipoise at 25° C. and a pH sufficient to maintain the protein suspended in the slurry.

Abstract: Radially expandable intraluminal stents suitable for providing interior support within a human blood vessel are disclosed. A material used to construct the stent is formed into diamond cells. Each of the diamond cells has arms of equal length. Diamond cells are interconnected to other diamond cells by legs or to pairs of smaller cells which have a common vertex and four arms of equal length. Needle-like prongs are attached to the diamond cells at their vertex to function as attachment means for a biological membrane.