W. L. Gore & Associates, Inc.

Gore Enterprise Holdings, Inc.

James Todd Walter

Edward H Cully

Michael J Vonesh

John W Dolan

Charles F White

John W Spencer, Jr

Craig T Nordhausen

Warren Cutright

Joseph A Huppenthal

Richard Wilson

Layne L Moen

Ted Ray Farnsworth

Warren J Cutright

The present invention is directed to a device that permits a permanent aperture to be formed in a wall, or other partition, of an implantable medical device. The present invention maintains the continuity and fluid-retaining properties of the implantable medical device by providing a breachable barrier material fully covering an opening delimited by a deformable framework. The invention is accessed with conventional interventional surgical instruments that disrupt and displace the barrier material. Following disruption of the barrier material, the opening is enlarged with surgical instruments to form a permanent framed aperture in the wall of the implantable medical device. The permanent framed aperture provides fluid communication across the wall of the implantable medical device.

Medical device ameneable to fenestration

The present invention is a composite medical device having a non-bioabsorbable implantable tissue repair or reconstruction component and a resilient bioabsorbable support member component that aids in deployment and placement of the implantable component at a surgical site. Following deployment, the support member component is readily bioabsorbed and removed from the implantable component. The invention is particularly useful in laproscopic, endoluminal, and other surgical procedures.

Tissue repair device with a bioabsorbable support member

Improved processes for surface treating expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) is disclosed and improved surface-treated devices made from the processes. The processes employ a laser to surface-modify an expanded PTFE structure to create a macro-roughened surface that has the capability to remain microporous throughout. The unique process of the present invention creates a ridge and valley structure on the surfaces of devices that includes unique gnarled nodes along valley floors.

Surface modified expanded polytetrafluoroethylene devices and methods of producing the same

Implantable surgical membrane

A macroscopically perforated porous expanded polytetrafluoroethylene sheet material having a microstructure of nodes interconnected by fibrils wherein the perforations have a minimum diameter of about 0.1 mm and wherein the orientation of a fibril varies as a function of the proximity of a fibril to the edge of a perforation. The length of the fibrils may also vary as a function of the proximity of a fibril to the edge of a perforation. The sheet material may alternatively be provided in a tubular form.

Macroscopically perforated porous polytetrafluoroethylene materials

An article is provided for facilitating oral prophylaxis. The article comprises a continuous, elongated fiber of polytetrafluoroethylene having at least one substantially rigid first portion and a substantially flexible second portion comprised of expanded polytetrafluoroethylene.

Flossing apparatus

Growing community of inventors

Flagstaff, AZ, United States of America

James Todd Walter