W. L. Gore & Associates, Inc.

Peter J Walsh

Cody L Hartman

William C Bruchman

Paul D Gassler

Charles F White

Bill R Finney

William G Hardie

Michael E Hodgins

Gary L Sturgill

Methods are presented that provide a thin, biocompatible, high-strength, composite material that is suitable for use in prosthetic valves. The composite material maintains flexibility in high-cycle flexural applications, making it particularly applicable to prosthetic valve leaflets. The composite material includes more than one porous expanded fluoropolymer layer and an elastomer present in the pores of the porous expanded fluoropolymer.

Methods of making a durable multi-layer high strength polymer composite suitable for prosthetic valves

Thin, biocompatible, high-strength, composite materials are disclosed that are suitable for use in a prosthetic valve for regulating blood flow direction. In one aspect, the leaflet material maintains flexibility in high-cycle flexural applications, making it particularly applicable to high-flex implants such as a prosthetic heart valve leaflet. The leaflet material includes a coherent single layer and an elastomer, wherein the elastomer is present in the pores of the porous coherent single layer.

Coherent single layer high strength synthetic polymer composites for prosthetic valves

Thin, biocompatible, high-strength, composite materials are disclosed that are suitable for use in a valve for regulating blood flow direction. In one aspect, the composite material maintains flexibility in high-cycle flexural applications, making it particularly applicable to high-flex implants such as a prosthetic heart valve leaflet. The composite material includes a porous polymer membrane and an elastomer, wherein the elastomer fills substantially all of the pores of the porous polymer membrane.

Durable high strength polymer composites suitable for implant and articles produced therefrom

A thin, biocompatible, high-strength, composite material is disclosed that is suitable for use in various implanted configurations. The composite material maintains flexibility in high-cycle flexural applications, making it particularly applicable to high-flex implants such as heart pacing lead or heart valve leaflet. The composite material includes at least one porous expanded fluoropolymer layer.

Methods of making durable multi-layer high strength polymer composite suitable for implant and articles produced therefrom

A thin, biocompatible, high-strength, composite material is disclosed that is suitable for use in various implanted configurations. The composite material maintains flexibility in high-cycle flexural applications, making it particularly applicable to high-flex implants such as a prosthetic heart valve leaflet. The composite material includes at least one porous expanded fluoropolymer layer and an elastomer present in the pores of the porous expanded fluoropolymer.

Durable multi-layer high strength polymer composite suitable for implant and articles produced therefrom

A contamination-resistant air permeable fabric laminate is disclosed that comprises a textile layer attached by discontinuous attachments to an asymmetric porous membrane comprising at least two porous regions or layers through the thickness of the membrane. Methods for making the fabric laminate are disclosed as well as garments made therefrom.

Contamination resistant air permeable fabric laminate and garments made therefrom

A thin, biocompatible, high-strength, composite material is disclosed that is suitable for use in various implanted configurations. In one aspect, the composite material maintains flexibility in high-cycle flexural applications, making it particularly applicable to high-flex implants such as a prosthetic heart valve leaflet. The composite material includes a porous expanded fluoropolymer membrane and an elastomer, wherein the elastomer is present in the pores of the porous expanded fluoropolymer.

Durable high strength polymer composite suitable for implant and articles produced therefrom

Methods are provided to make a prosthetic valve having a thin, biocompatible, high-strength, composite material. In one aspect, the composite material maintains flexibility in high-cycle flexural applications, making it particularly applicable to high-flex implants such as a heart valve leaflet. The composite material includes a porous expanded fluoropolymer membrane and an elastomer, wherein the elastomer is present in the pores of the porous expanded fluoropolymer.

Methods of making a prosthetic valve with a durable high strength polymer composite leaflet

A thin, biocompatible, high-strength, composite material is disclosed that is suitable for use in various implanted configurations. In one aspect, the composite material maintains flexibility in high-cycle flexural applications, making it particularly applicable to high-flex implants such as heart pacing lead or heart valve leaflet. The composite material includes a porous expanded fluoropolymer membrane and an elastomer, wherein the elastomer fills substantially all of the pores of the porous expanded fluoropolymer, and the composite material comprising less than about 80% fluoropolymer by weight.

A thin, biocompatible, high-strength, composite material is disclosed that is suitable for use in various implanted configurations. The composite material maintains flexibility in high-cycle flexural applications, making it particularly applicable to high-flex implants such as heart pacing lead or heart valve leaflet. The composite material includes at least one porous expanded fluoropolymer layer and an elastomer substantially filling substantially all of the pores of the porous expanded fluoropolymer.

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Elkton, MD, United States of America

Peter J Walsh