Claims
- 1. A radially expandable reinforced vascular graft, comprising:
a first expanded polytetrafluoroethylene layer; a radially expandable support layer comprising at least one stent, wherein said support layer is in contact with a surface of said first expanded polytetrafluoroethylene layer; and a second expanded polytetrafluoroethylene layer, securing said radially expandable support layer to said first expanded polytetrafluoroethylene layer, wherein said second expanded polytetrafluoroethylene layer includes a plurality of gaps.
- 2. The radially expandable reinforced vascular graft of claim 1, wherein said gaps comprise spaced apart apertures in said second expanded polytetrafluoroethylene layer.
- 3. The radially expandable reinforced vascular graft of claim 1, wherein said gaps comprise spaced apart slits in said second expanded polytetrafluoroethylene layer.
- 4. The radially expandable reinforced vascular graft of claim 3, wherein said slits are oriented longitudinally.
- 5. The radially expandable reinforced vascular graft of claim 3, wherein said slits are oriented circumferentially.
- 6. The radially expandable reinforced vascular graft of claim 1, wherein said radially expandable support layer comprises a plurality of ring stents.
- 7. The radially expandable reinforced vascular graft of claim 6, wherein each of said ring stents is formed in a zigzag pattern of alternating peaks and valleys.
- 8. The radially expandable reinforced vascular graft of claim 7, wherein said zigzag ring stents are disposed with the alternating peaks and valleys of neighboring ring stents in phase.
- 9. The radially expandable reinforced vascular graft of claim 1, wherein said stent is made of metal.
- 10. The radially expandable reinforced vascular graft of claim 1, wherein an end region of said radially expandable reinforced vascular graft is fully encapsulated.
- 11. A radially expandable reinforced vascular graft, comprising:
a first expanded polytetrafluoroethylene layer; a radially expandable support layer comprising at least one stent, wherein said support layer is in contact with a surface of said first expanded polytetrafluoroethylene layer; and a second expanded polytetrafluoroethylene layer, securing said radially expandable support layer to said first expanded polytetrafluoroethylene layer, wherein said second expanded polytetrafluoroethylene layer includes a plurality of spaced apart apertures.
- 12. The radially expandable reinforced vascular graft of claim 11, wherein said radially expandable support layer comprises a plurality of ring stents.
- 13. The radially expandable reinforced vascular graft of claim 12, wherein each of said ring stents is formed in a zigzag pattern of alternating peaks and valleys.
- 14. The radially expandable reinforced vascular graft of claim 13, wherein said zigzag ring stents are disposed with the alternating peaks and valleys in phase.
- 15. The radially expandable reinforced vascular graft of claim 11, wherein said stent is made of metal.
- 16. The radially expandable reinforced vascular graft of claim 11, wherein an end of said radially expandable reinforced vascular graft is fully encapsulated.
- 17. A radially expandable reinforced vascular graft, comprising:
a first expanded polytetrafluoroethylene layer; a radially expandable support layer comprising at least one stent, wherein said support layer is in contact with a surface of said first expanded polytetrafluoroethylene layer; and a second expanded polytetrafluoroethylene layer, securing said radially expandable support layer to said first expanded polytetrafluoroethylene layer, wherein said second expanded polytetrafluoroethylene layer includes a plurality of slits.
- 18. The radially expandable reinforced vascular graft of claim 17, wherein said slits are oriented longitudinally.
- 19. The radially expandable reinforced vascular graft of claim 17, wherein said slits are oriented circumferentially.
- 20. The radially expandable reinforced vascular graft of claim 17, wherein said radially expandable support layer comprises a plurality of ring stents.
- 21. The radially expandable reinforced vascular graft of claim 20, wherein each of said ring stents is formed in a zigzag pattern of alternating peaks and valleys.
- 22. The radially expandable reinforced vascular graft of claim 21, wherein said zigzag ring stents are disposed with the alternating peaks and valleys in phase.
- 23. The radially expandable reinforced vascular graft of claim 17, wherein said stent is made of metal.
- 24. The radially expandable reinforced vascular graft of claim 17, wherein an end of said radially expandable reinforced vascular graft is fully encapsulated.
- 25. A method for making a partially encapsulated radially expandable reinforced vascular graft, comprising:
providing a first tubular expanded polytetrafluoroethylene layer of material; disposing a radially expandable support layer comprising at least one stent over said tubular layer; placing a second tubular layer of expanded polytetrafluoroethylene over said radially expandable support layer; cutting a plurality of apertures into said second tubular layer, leaving a portion of said support layer exposed through the apertures; and laminating said second tubular layer to said first tubular layer.
- 26. The method of claim 25, wherein the first and second tubular layers are physically exchanged for each other.
- 27. The method of claim 25, wherein the step of cutting occurs prior to the step of placing.
- 28. The method of claim 25, further comprising the step of fully encapsulating an end of said radially expandable reinforced vascular graft.
- 29. The method of claim 25, wherein said radially expandable support layer comprises a plurality of ring stents formed in a zigzag pattern of alternating peaks and valleys, wherein said placing step further comprises placing said peaks and valleys of successive stents in phase.
- 30. A method for making a partially encapsulated radially expandable reinforced vascular graft, comprising:
providing a first tubular expanded polytetrafluoroethylene layer of material; disposing a radially expandable support layer comprising at least one stent over said tubular layer; placing a second tubular layer of expanded polytetrafluoroethylene over said radially expandable support layer; cutting a plurality of slits into said second tubular layer; and laminating said second tubular layer to said first tubular layer.
- 31. The method of claim 30, further comprising the step of fully encapsulating an end of said radially expandable reinforced vascular graft.
- 32. The method of claim 30, wherein said radially expandable support layer comprises a plurality of ring stents formed in a zigzag pattern of alternating peaks and valleys, wherein said placing step further comprises placing said peaks and valleys of successive stents in phase.
- 33. The method of claim 30, wherein the first and second tubular layers are physically exchanged for each other.
- 34. The method of claim 30, wherein the step of cutting occurs prior to the step of placing.
Parent Case Info
[0001] This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/118,269, filed Feb. 2, 1999.
Provisional Applications (1)
|
Number |
Date |
Country |
|
60118269 |
Feb 1999 |
US |
Divisions (1)
|
Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
09388496 |
Sep 1999 |
US |
Child |
09848740 |
May 2001 |
US |