W. L. Gore & Associates, Inc.

Gore Enterprise Holdings, Inc.

Charles E Biggerstaff

Michael L Campbell

Rob G Riffle

Benjamin G Williams

Leslie C Butters

Anita Switzer

Brian M Conn

Ramona Hicks

An improved implantable medical device and junction between a blood conduit and a blood vessel are disclosed. The device of the present invention provides a connection to a blood vessel that is resistant to occlusion. Resistance to occlusion is achieved by providing an implantable medical junction with: improved and consistent anastomotic geometry and hemodynamics to minimize turbulence and inappropriate shear stresses on the native blood vessels; intraluminal configuration that does not require penetration through to the luminal surface of the blood vessel or the device for anchoring; protection of the native blood vessel from the forces of blood flow in the impact zone and beyond the impact zone; and isolation of injured and traumatized tissues from the lumen of the blood vessel and the device. A cuff is also provided at the junction to reduce blood leakage from the native blood vessel, and to provide additional device anchoring.

Vascular shunt graft and junction for same

Apparatus, a method for extruding and expanding tubular products of polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) and the products produced thereby are provided. In the apparatus, at least one helical groove is placed in the wall of the extruder tip or die. Preferably, at least one groove is machined in the tip having a pitch angle of 45 degrees and at least one groove is machined in the die having a pitch opposite that (135 degrees) of the tip groove. In the expanded products produced according to the invention, at least one radial position within the wall of a tube substantially all of the longitudinal axes of the nodes are oriented at an angle between about 85 degrees and about 15 degrees with respect to the longitudinal axis of the tube. In a preferred embodiment, substantially all of the longitudinal axes of the nodes located adjacent the inside wall of the tube are oriented at an angle between about 85 degrees and about 15 degrees with respect to the longitudinal axis of the tube, and substantially all of the longitudinal axes of the nodes which are located adjacent the outside wall of the tube are oriented at an angle between about 15 degrees and about 165 degrees with respect to the longitudinal axis of the tube. For the preferred product, its hoop strength is increased over an otherwise identical tube extruded using smooth surfaces, nongrooved extrusion tip and die.

Apparatus and method for extruding and expanding polytetrafluoroethylene

Apparatus, a method for extruding and expanding tubular products of polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) and the products produced thereby are provided. In the apparatus, at least one helical groove is placed in the wall of the extruder tip or die. Preferably, at least one groove is machined in the tip having a pitch angle of 45 degrees and at least one groove is machined in the die having a pitch opposite that (135 degrees) of the tip groove. In the expanded products produced according to the invention, at at least one radial position within the wall of a tube substantially all of the longitudinal axes of the nodes are oriented at an angle between about 85 degrees and about 15 degrees with respect to the longitudinal axis of the tube. In a preferred embodiment, substantially all of the longitudinal axes of the nodes located adjacent the inside wall of the tube are oriented at an angle between about 85 degrees and about 15 degrees with respect to the longitudinal axis of the tube, and substantially all of the longitudinal axes of the nodes which are located adjacent the outside wall of the tube are oriented at an angle between about 15 degrees and about 165 degrees with respect to the longitudinal axis of the tube. For the preferred product, its hoop strength is increased over an otherwise identical tube extruded using smooth surfaced, nongrooved extrusion tip and die.

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Flagstaff, AZ, United States of America

Charles E Biggerstaff