Boston Scientific Scimed, Inc.

Scimed Life Systems, Inc.

Meadox Medicals, Inc.

Boston Scientific Corporation

Jamie Henderson

Krzysztof Sowinski

David J Lentz

Richard J Zdrahala

Ronald Rakos

Edward J Dormier

Gary L Loomis

Warren A Joeckel

Ellen M Golds

Dennis Kujawski

Howard Wolek

Julio Duran

Howard Woleck

Methods of making multi-furcated grafts and, more particularly, a bifurcated graft from at least one ePTFE member are provided. Also provided are grafts made according to such methods.

Multi-furcated ePTFE grafts and stent-graft prostheses and methods of making the same

The present invention provides an expanded tubular graft formed of expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (ePTFE). The graft has first and second open ends and a surface longitudinally extending between the ends. The graft also includes an inner and outer cylindrical walls, where the walls have crimps or corrugations located along the surface of the graft. Additionally, the graft is coated with biocompatible elastomer covering portions of the outer cylindrical walls of the PTFE graft. The resulting ePTFE crimped graft exhibits various enhanced properties, such as adjustable graft length, high kink resistance, improved suture retention and high crush resistance as compared to the same graft without the crimps.

ePTFE crimped graft

A method of making an ePTFE tubular structure includes the steps of

ePTFE graft with axial elongation properties

A differentially expanded vascular graft for implantation within a body includes a PTFE tube formed of a homogeneous material. The PTFE tube has a longitudinal first portion which has been longitudinally expanded, and a longitudinal second portion which has been longitudinally expanded. The first and second portions have respective microstructures which are different from one another. A method and apparatus for making the differentially expanded vascular graft of the present invention facilitates the formation of the various expanded portions of the PTFE tube.

Differentially expanded vascular graft

A graft, for example, an arterio-venous shunt graft, is provided, which in a first aspect of the subject invention, is formed with longitudinal ribs. With fibrotic tissue ingrowth between the ribs, a composite rib/tissue layer is formed about the graft. The ribs provide counteracting lateral force against the embedded tissue to seal punctures formed therethrough during hemodialysis procedures. To provide additional surface area for puncturing, the graft may be formed with a truncated cross-section. With a second aspect of the invention, the graft is mounted onto a strip to prevent kinking, twisting or bending during an implantation procedure.

Arterio-venous shunt graft

The vascular graft includes a PTFE tube having non-expanded portions formed from sintering a PTFE green tube extrudate. The non-expanded portions are distributed longitudinally along the PTFE tube. The PTFE tube also has expanded portions formed subsequent to the sintering of the PTFE green tube extrudate. The expanded and non-expanded portions are integral with one another, and alternate with one another along the length of the PTFE tube. The expanded and non-expanded portions each have a respective stiffness, where the stiffness of the non-expanded portion is greater than that of the expanded portion.

Sintered ring supported vascular graft

The ePTFE structure includes an ePTFE tubular structure having opposite ends and a longitudinal axis. The ePTFE tubular structure is formed from rotating the opposite ends relative to one another in a direction of rotation about the longitudinal axis. The ePTFE tubular structure has a node and fibril micro-structure in which substantially all of the fibrils are oriented in the direction of rotation.

Skewed nodal-fibril ePTFE structure

A prosthesis, and method for forming same, are provided which includes expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (ePTFE) tubes having angularly offset node and fibril configurations. Also, the node and fibril configurations are angularly offset from the longitudinal axes of the respective tubes, providing resistance against failure in the longitudinal direction.

Counter rotational layering of ePTFE to improve mechanical properties of a prosthesis

The vascular graft includes a conduit structure having outer and inner wall surfaces. The conduit structure includes a longitudinal central portion having a flexibility. The conduit structure further includes a pair of longitudinal intermediate portions each of which are integral with the central portion and located longitudinally such that the central portion is between the intermediate portions. The intermediate portions each have a flexibility which is less than the flexibility of the central portion.

Variable lamination of vascular graft

The smart textile vascular graft is used with an electrical control unit. The vascular graft includes a tube structure formed of a textile material. At least one active fiber is incorporated in the textile material. The active fiber provides electrical coupling thereof to the electrical control unit to provide for transmission of a control signal between the active fiber and control unit. The active fiber has at least one physical characteristic which is variable and corresponds to the control signal to provide communication between the active fiber and electrical control unit relating to the physical characteristic.

Smart textile vascular graft

An implantable microporous ePTFE tubular vascular graft exhibits long term patency, superior radial tensile strength and suture hole elongation resistance. The graft includes a first ePTFE tube and a second ePTFE tube circumferentially disposed over the first tube. The first ePTFE tube exhibits a porosity sufficient to promote cell endothelization, tissue ingrowth and healing. The second ePTFE tube exhibits enhanced radial strength in excess of the radial tensile strength of the first tube.

Self-sealing PTFE vascular graft and manufacturing methods

The present invention provides an implantable graft, including a primary tubular body having a first outer wall surface and a first inner wall surface defining a primary blood contacting lumen, and a secondary tubular body having a second outer wall surface and a second inner wall surface. The secondary tubular body is located about the primary tubular body to form a space therebetween. The primary and secondary tubular bodies are joined by at least one rib.

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Oakland, NJ, United States of America

Jamie Henderson