W. L. Gore & Associates, Inc.

Vincent L Perko

Kyle R Buckley

Jerry L Johnson

David J Myers

Daniel F Davidson

Melanee J Williams

An endoluminal device can comprise a flexible tubular wall and a frame member. The frame member can be comprised of a shape-memory material having sides with protrusions which are partially or substantially flattened when formed together with the flexible tubular wall to thereby create a bias in the side wall of the endoluminal device that resists deformation from a desired device profile during crush loading and is thereby resistant to invaginations when deployed.

Biased endoluminal device

The present disclosure describes methods and apparatus for endoluminal devices, such as stents, that have components with varying cross-sections at various points about the length of the endoluminal device, with various benefits resulting therefrom.

Stent with varying cross-section

A method of making a mechanical cable having a steel wire core, a layer of fluoropolymer adhesive covering the steel wire core, and an outer layer of porous PTFE covering the layer of fluoropolymer adhesive. The mechanical cable may be a component of a mechanical cable system wherein the mechanical cable slides axially or rotates within a surrounding support tube. The support tube preferably has an inner surface comprised of non-porous PTFE. The support tube may optionally incorporate a contamination seal at the ends of the support tube to reduce the entrance of contaminating dirt and water into the system. The layer of porous PTFE covering the steel wire core may optionally be filled with a lubricating and abrasion resistant filler such as graphite.

Method of making a mechanical cable

A mechanical control cable system having a tubular housing coaxially surrounding a portion of a length of control cable and incorporating a tubular umbrella seal affixed to at least one end of the system. The tubular umbrella seal is coaxially affixed at one end to an exposed end of the control cable; the other end of the tubular umbrella seal coaxially surrounds an end of the tubular housing with coaxial clearance adequate to allow the tubular umbrella seal to move axially with respect to the tubular housing over the entire desired range of axial motion.

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Flagstaff, AZ, United States of America

Vincent L Perko