Claims
- 1. A flat-woven tubular prosthesis comprising a varying diameter, single tubular wall portion having a first longitudinal expanse portion comprising a number of first warp yarns of a first polymer defining a tubular shape of a first diameter and transitioning therefrom a second longitudinal expanse portion comprising a number of second warp yarns of a second polymer defining a tubular shape of having a second diameter, wherein said first diameter is different from said second diameter.
- 2. The prosthesis of claim 1 wherein said polymers are thermoplastic polymers selected from the group consisting of polyesters, polypropylenes, polyethylenes, polyurethanes, polytetrafluoroethylenes and combinations thereof.
- 3. The prosthesis of claim 1 wherein said first and said second warp yarns are selected from the group consisting of flat yarns, textured yarns, twisted yarns, and combinations thereof.
- 4. The prosthesis of claim 1 wherein said first and said second warp yarns are capable of heat-setting at a temperature of about 190 to about 200° C.
- 5. The prosthesis of claim 1 wherein said first diameter is substantially constant along said first expanse portion and further wherein said second diameter is substantially constant along said second expanse portion.
- 6. The prosthesis of claim 1 wherein said second diameter is variable along said second expanse portion.
- 7. The prosthesis of claim 1 wherein said second diameter increases longitudinally along said second expanse portion to define an outwardly tapered shape of said second expanse portion.
- 8. The prosthesis of claim 1, wherein first polymer is different from said second polymer.
- 9. The prosthesis of claim 1, wherein said number of first warp yarns equals said number of second warp yarns.
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
This application is a continuation of application Ser. No. 09/247,149, filed on Feb. 9, 1999, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,136,022, which is a cont. of Ser. No. 08/976,544, filed on Nov. 24, 1997, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,904,714, which is a Division of Ser. No. 08/653,028, filing date May 24, 1996 now U.S. Pat. No. 5,800,514.
US Referenced Citations (73)
Foreign Referenced Citations (3)
Number |
Date |
Country |
0 698 379 |
Feb 1996 |
EP |
3045743 |
Feb 1991 |
JP |
WO 8210647 |
May 1982 |
WO |
Continuations (2)
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Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
09/247149 |
Feb 1999 |
US |
Child |
09/611861 |
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US |
Parent |
08/976544 |
Nov 1997 |
US |
Child |
09/247149 |
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US |