# US 10,869,749 B2 · Reinforced graft prosthesis > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,869,749 B2 - Document ID: US10869749B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/953,951 - Filed: 2018-04-16 - Published: 2018-10-25 - Granted: 2020-12-22 - Earliest claimed: 2017-04-21 - Assignees: Cook Medical Technologies LLC - Applicants: Cook Medical Technologies LLC - Inventors: Ralf Spindler - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10869749B2 ## CPC - A61F 2/07: Stent-grafts - B21F 45/008: {of medical instruments, e.g. stents or corneal rings} - A61F 2/89: the wire-like elements comprising two or more adjacent rings flexibly connected by separate members - A61F 2002/072: {Encapsulated stents, e.g. wire or whole stent embedded in lining} - A61F 2210/0076: multilayered, e.g. laminated structures - A61F 2230/0091: helically-coiled or spirally-coiled, i.e. having a 2-D spiral cross-section - A61F 2240/001: Designing or manufacturing processes - A61F: FILTERS IMPLANTABLE INTO BLOOD VESSELS; PROSTHESES; DEVICES PROVIDING PATENCY TO, OR PREVENTING COLLAPSING OF, TUBULAR STRUCTURES OF THE BODY, e.g. STENTS; ORTHOPAEDIC, NURSING OR CONTRACEPTIVE DEVICES; FOMENTATION; TREATMENT OR PROTECTION OF EYES OR EARS; BANDAGES, DRESSINGS OR ABSORBENT PADS; FIRST-AID KITS (dental prosthetics A61C) - B21F: WORKING OR PROCESSING OF METAL WIRE (rolling of metal wire B21B1/16; by drawing, auxiliary operations used in connection with metal-working without essentially removing material B21C) ## Abstract A medical device, such as a prosthesis, and method of forming the same are disclosed. The medical device includes a cover material and a reinforcement element, and may include a stent frame structure. The reinforcement element includes a plurality of bends disposed about a pattern axis. The pattern axis is arranged helically along the cover material. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A prosthesis comprising: a radially expandable stent frame structure; a cover material disposed along the stent frame structure; and a reinforcement element coupled to the cover material, the reinforcement element having a plurality of bends disposed about a pattern axis, the pattern axis arranged helically along the cover material, wherein the cover material includes an outer layer disposed along an outer surface of the frame structure, and an inner layer disposed along an inner surface of the frame structure, where the radially expandable stent frame structure comprises a plurality of stents that are axially disposed away from one another about a longitudinal axis of the cover material, such that the plurality of stents each form a closed shape when viewed in a direction substantially orthogonal relative to the main longitudinal axis of the cover material. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The prosthesis of claim 1, wherein the reinforcement element is embedded within the cover material. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The prosthesis of claim 2, wherein the stent frame structure is embedded within the cover material. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The prosthesis of claim 1, wherein at least one of the outer layer and the inner layer comprises a plurality of microlayers, and the reinforcement element is disposed between the microlayers. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The prosthesis of claim 1, wherein the reinforcement element is a single yarn. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The prosthesis of claim 1, wherein the prosthesis includes a proximal end and a distal end, wherein the reinforcement element in a stretched configuration without the plurality of bends has a longitudinal length at least twice a longitudinal length measured between the proximal and distal ends of the prosthesis. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The prosthesis of claim 1, wherein the plurality of bends of the reinforcement element is disposed generally in an undulating pattern about the pattern axis, wherein one of the plurality of bends forms each undulation of the undulating pattern. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The prosthesis of claim 1, wherein the plurality of bends of the reinforcement element is disposed generally in an undulating pattern about the pattern axis, wherein two or more of the plurality of bends form each undulation of the undulating pattern. ### Claim 9 A prosthesis comprising: a radially expandable stent frame structure; a cover material disposed along the stent frame structure; and a reinforcement element coupled to the cover material, the reinforcement element having a plurality of bends disposed about a pattern axis, the pattern axis arranged helically along the cover material, wherein the cover material includes an outer layer disposed along an outer surface of the frame structure, and an inner layer disposed along an inner surface of the frame structure, wherein the reinforcement element is embedded within the cover material. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The prosthesis of claim 9, wherein the stent frame structure is embedded within the cover material. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) The prosthesis of claim 9, wherein the reinforcement element is a single yarn. ### Claim 12 (depends on 9) The prosthesis of claim 9, wherein the prosthesis includes a proximal end and a distal end, wherein the reinforcement element in a stretched configuration without the plurality of bends has a longitudinal length at least twice a longitudinal length measured between the proximal and distal ends of the prosthesis. ### Claim 13 (depends on 9) The prosthesis of claim 9, wherein the plurality of bends of the reinforcement element is disposed generally in an undulating pattern about the pattern axis, wherein one of the plurality of bends forms each undulation of the undulating pattern. ### Claim 14 (depends on 9) The prosthesis of claim 9, wherein the plurality of bends of the reinforcement element is disposed generally in an undulating pattern about the pattern axis, wherein two or more of the plurality of bends form each undulation of the undulating pattern. ### Claim 15 A prosthesis comprising: a radially expandable stent frame structure; a cover material disposed along the stent frame structure; and a reinforcement element coupled to the cover material, the reinforcement element having a plurality of bends disposed about a pattern axis, the pattern axis arranged helically along the cover material, wherein the cover material includes an outer layer disposed along an outer surface of the frame structure, and an inner layer disposed along an inner surface of the frame structure, wherein at least one of the outer layer and the inner layer comprises a plurality of microlayers, and the reinforcement element is disposed between the microlayers. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The prosthesis of claim 15, wherein the stent frame structure is embedded within the cover material. ### Claim 17 (depends on 15) The prosthesis of claim 15, wherein the reinforcement element is a single yarn. ### Claim 18 (depends on 15) The prosthesis of claim 15, wherein the prosthesis includes a proximal end and a distal end, wherein the reinforcement element in a stretched configuration without the plurality of bends has a longitudinal length at least twice a longitudinal length measured between the proximal and distal ends of the prosthesis. ### Claim 19 (depends on 15) The prosthesis of claim 15, wherein the plurality of bends of the reinforcement element is disposed generally in an undulating pattern about the pattern axis, wherein one of the plurality of bends forms each undulation of the undulating pattern. ### Claim 20 (depends on 15) The prosthesis of claim 15, wherein the plurality of bends of the reinforcement element is disposed generally in an undulating pattern about the pattern axis, wherein two or more of the plurality of bends form each undulation of the undulating pattern.