Claims
- 1. An implantable material comprising porous expanded polytetrafluoroethylene having a microstructure comprised of nodes interconnected by fibrils, said porous expanded polytetrafluoroethylene comprising a three dimensional material having at least one surface wherein at least a substantial portion of the at least one surface is comprised of freestanding node portions with open valleys disposed between the freestanding node portions.
- 2. An implantable material according to claim 1 wherein the porous expanded polytetrafluoroethylene has a water droplet roll-off angle of less than about 10 degrees.
- 3. An implantable material according to claim 1 wherein the porous expanded polytetrafluoroethylene has a water droplet roll-off angle of less than about 8 degrees.
- 4. An implantable material according to claim 1 wherein the porous expanded polytetrafluoroethylene has a water droplet roll-off angle of less than about 6 degrees.
- 5. An implantable material according to claim 1 wherein the porous expanded polytetrafluoroethylene has a water droplet roll-off angle of less than about 4 degrees.
- 6. An implantable material according to claim 1 wherein the three dimensional material is in the form of a tubular shape having an inner surface and an outer surface and the at least one surface comprises the inner surface of the tubular shape.
- 7. An implantable material according to claim 6 wherein the tubular shape is a vascular graft.
- 8. An implantable material according to claim 1 wherein the implantable material comprises the outer surface of a breast prosthesis.
- 9. An implantable material according to claim 1 wherein the implantable material comprises the outer surface of a breast prosthesis and wherein the porous expanded polytetrafluoroethylene is adhered to the outer surface of a flexible silicone container.
- 10. An implantable material according to claim 1 wherein the three dimensional material is in the form of a tubular shape having an inner surface and an outer surface and the at least one surface comprises the outer surface of the tubular shape.
- 11. An implantable material according to claim 10 wherein the tubular shape is a vascular graft.
- 12. An implantable material according to claim 1 wherein the three dimensional material is in the form of a flat sheet.
- 13. An implantable material according to claim 12 wherein the flat sheet is an implantable patch.
- 14. An implantable material according to claim 12 wherein the flat sheet is an implantable membrane.
- 15. An implantable material according to claim 1 wherein the three dimensional material is in the form of a cylindrical shape having a curved outer surface and the at least one surface comprises the curved outer surface.
- 16. An implantable material according to claim 15 wherein the cylindrical shape is a suture.
- 17. A method of modifying a surface of an implantable porous expanded polytetrafluoroethylene material, said implantable porous expanded polytetrafluoroethylene material having a microstructure of nodes interconnected by fibrils, said method comprising exposing the surface to a reactive gas plasma discharge until the fibrils are removed from at least a substantial portion of the surface and the surface is comprised of freestanding node portions with open valleys disposed between the freestanding node portions.
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
This application is a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 08/161,184 filed Dec. 1, 1993 which is a continuation of application Ser. No. 07/718,324 filed on Jun. 14, 1991, now abandoned.
US Referenced Citations (1)
Number |
Name |
Date |
Kind |
4187390 |
Gore |
Feb 1980 |
|
Non-Patent Literature Citations (1)
Entry |
Morra et al, Langmuir, 1989; 5; 872-876. |
Continuations (1)
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Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
718324 |
Jun 1991 |
|
Continuation in Parts (1)
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Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
161184 |
Dec 1993 |
|