Baxter International Inc.

Roger H Tu

Edwin Wang

Wilfred F Mathewson

Cary Hata

Hsing-Wen Sung

Shih-Hwa Shen

David E Chen

Chris Kuo

Mark A Roberts

Variably compliant natural tissue valve leaflets and vascular bioprosthetics incorporating variably compliant leaflets are provided along with methods for their manufacture. The variably compliant leaflets are fixed with the leaflet base section under greater pressure than the leaflet tip section rendering them relatively stiff along the leaflet base section and more flexible at the leaflet tip section. The radially variable flexing characteristics of the valve leaflets promote even distribution of mechanical stress on the valve assembly during the cardiac cycle leading to improved hemodynamic performance while retarding the calcification of the leaflet tissue.

Method of manufacturing natural tissue valves having variably compliant

Natural tissue valve prostheses having variably complaint leaflets

Preparing chemically cross-linked collagenous biological graft material by preparation processes which include the step of altering the locations and/or orientations of chemical cross-linkages formed during the collagen cross-linking process. Embodiments of the method include various processes whereby physical force, stress or movement is applied to alter the relative positioning of the collagen fibers within the graft materials during at least the initial period of exposure to the collagen cross-linking reagent.

Method of manufacturing pliable biological grafts materials

Interpenetrated matrix of polytetrafluoroethylene and elastomer is disclosed. The matrix is formed into a composite material which is flexible, durable, highly porous with a tight microporous structure and improved retractability. The composite material is subjected to a multi-expansion process to produce shaped articles such as films, tubes, rods and filaments with excellent flexibility and elasticity. More particularly, the composite material can be utilized to produce vascular grafts with excellent biological compatibility.

Process of manufacturing porous multi-expanded fluoropolymers

A vascular graft having a composite structure prepared by wrapping about the external surface of a tube having one or more layers of polytetrafluoroethylene or a polytetrafluoroethylene-elastomeric polymer blend, either alone or in combination, an elastic fiber, while maintaining the fiber under tension. The elastic fibers can be wound about the entire length of the tube while being maintained under the same of different degrees of tension. Furthermore, the elastic fibers may be wound about the tube under a higher degree of tension along locations adjacent the opposite ends the tubing.

Multi-layered poly(tetrafluoroethylene)/elastomer materials useful for

A vascular graft at least partially formed from porous hollow fibers, with at least some of the porous hollow fibers being located adjacent an inner surface of the vascular graft. The vascular grafts of the invention have a relatively small pore size for promoting tissue growth while inhibiting bleeding during the healing process. The porous hollow fibers used to form the vascular grafts of the invention further provide a storage situs for temporarily holding a drug or other material for delivery into the blood stream during the healing process. This storage capability may also be used for holding an inert gas while providing the graft with greater resilency and cushioning characteristics than achievable with presently available vascular grafts.

Microporous vascular graft

A composition comprising a homogenous mixture of unsintered porous fluoropolymer particles and fluoroelastomers, processes for manufacturing the composition, and devices made from the composition.

Heterogeneous elastomeric compositions containing a fluoroelastomer and

Biologically compatible materials capable of being formed into implants, comprising layers of poly(tetrafluoroethylene) and mixtures of poly(tetrafluoroethylene) and elastomer, having excellent compliance, strength, elasticity and suturability are disclosed. The materials are preferably prepared as implants or vascular grafts by co-extruding a relatively thin luminal layer of poly(tetrafluoroethylene) having a distinct fibral nodal microstructure within a layer of a mixture of poly(tetrafluoroethylene) and elastomer to impart elasticity to the implant. A preferred embodiment comprises a radially asymmetric composite vascular graft having a luminal layer of poly(tetrafluoroethylene), a second layer of poly(tetrafluoroethylene)/elastomer mixture, a third layer of elastomer, and a fourth layer of a monomer fibrous elastomer matrix with each layer having a distinctive pore size, pore shape and porosity to promote tissue ingrowth and periprosthetic tissue anchoring.

Growing community of inventors

Lake Forest, CA, United States of America

Roger H Tu