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:
Jul. 13, 2004
Filed:
Jun. 10, 2002
Applicant:
Inventors:
Murthy V. Simhambhatla, San Jose, CA (US);
Robert D. Ainsworth, Scotts Valley, CA (US);
Robert P. Saltman, Redwood City, CA (US);
Assignee:
Advanced Cardiovascular Systems, Inc., Santa Clara, CA (US);
Attorney:
Primary Examiner:
Int. Cl.
CPC ...
B29C 4/788 ; B29C 5/340 ; B29C 5/342 ;
U.S. Cl.
CPC ...
B29C 4/788 ; B29C 5/340 ; B29C 5/342 ;
Abstract
Medical devices such as catheter balloons, stent covers and vascular grafts formed of ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylene. The devices are formed from polyethylene that has been processed so that it is microporous and has an oriented node and fibril structure. The balloons expand compliantly at low strains and are substantially less compliant at higher strains. The invention also comprises methods for making such balloons, including the steps of compacting a polyethylene powder and deforming it to impart the oriented structure.