W. L. Gore & Associates, Inc.

Jared S Nelson

Edward H Cully

Jeffrey B Duncan

Jeffrey J Kustusch

Ryan D Kariniemi

Thomas E Kariniemi

James D Silverman

Kehinde A Majolagbe

Parikshith K Kumar

Debra K Born

A wire of a nickel-titanium alloy having a permanent set of less than 5% when 11% strain is applied to the wire is disclosed. The wire may be formed by applying a first heat treatment to the wire, the first heat treatment includes applying heat of a first temperature for a first period of time, applying a strain deformation to the wire to set a shape for the wire during the first heat treatment, and applying a second heat treatment to the wire. The second heat treatment includes applying heat of a second temperature different from the first temperature for a second period of time, and the second temperature is between 210° C. and 290° C. The wire may have a modulus of at least 53 GPa when 200 MPa of stress is applied to the wire, and the wire is bonded to a secondary component.

Wires of nickel-titanium alloy and methods of forming the same

A stent graft including a stent having a wall having at least one opening, an outer surface, and an inner surface and a covering of a composite material having a least one expanded fluoropolymer membrane and an elastomer is provided. The cover can be used to cover the outer and/or the inner surface of the stent. The expanded fluoropolymer membrane contains serpentine fibrils. In exemplary embodiments, the fluoropolymer is polytetrafluoroethylene. The composite material may be axially and/or circumferentially wrapped around the stent. The composite material is fold-free throughout its operating diameter range and exhibits a sharp increase in stiffness at a predetermined diameter. The stent graft can be designed to have a stop point in either a radial or axial direction. The stent graft can advantageously be implanted undersized with respect to a nominal diameter without having material infolding.

Elastic stent graft

A stent graft including (1) a stent having a wall having at least one opening, an outer surface, and an inner surface and (2) a covering of a composite material having a least one expanded fluoropolymer membrane and an elastomer is provided. The cover can be used to cover the outer and/or the inner surface of the stent. The expanded fluoropolymer membrane contains serpentine fibrils. In exemplary embodiments, the fluoropolymer is polytetrafluoroethylene. The composite material may be axially and/or circumferentially wrapped around the stent. The composite material is fold-free throughout its operating diameter range and exhibits a sharp increase in stiffness at a predetermined diameter. The stent graft can be designed to have a stop point in either a radial or axial direction. The stent graft can advantageously be implanted undersized with respect to a nominal diameter without having material infolding.

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Flagstaff, AZ, United States of America

Jared S Nelson