The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Apr. 11, 2000
Filed:
Jan. 12, 1998
Todd Allen Berg, Lino Lakes, MN (US);
St. Jude Medical Cardiovascular Group, Inc., Minneapolis, MN (US);
Abstract
A fluoroscopically-visible graft structure is provided. The graft structure may be formed from a tubular metal wire mesh coated with an elastomeric material. The graft structure is flexible and distensible like natural body organ tubing and is suitable for repairing or replacing body organ tubing such as vascular tubing (e.g., arteries and veins). A radiopaque filler compound may be provided throughout a substantial portion of the graft structure or throughout the entire graft structure, so that a physician can determine the size and location of the graft structure during implantation of the graft structure in the body of a patient. The radiopacity of the graft structure also allows the physician to monitor status of the graft structure after installation. The radiopacity of the graft structure is preferably sufficient to allow the graft structure to be clearly viewable on a fluoroscope, but is not so great that the radiopacity of the graft obscures radiopaque dyes introduced into the patient and passed through the graft.