US 2001/0020181 A1 · PARTIAL ENCAPSULATION OF STENTS USING STRIPS AND BANDS

Abstract

Partially encapsulated stents are made using strips and bands of covering material. In one embodiment ringed stents are placed over an inner ePTFE tube (e.g., supported on a mandrel) and are covered by a series of longitudinal strips. A series of spaced apart ePTFE circumferential bands can then be placed over the top of the longitudinal strips and ringed stents; alternatively bands alone or strips alone may be employed. All of the components of the structure are then laminated to the inner ePTFE tube to capture the stent. By selecting the size and position of the ePTFE bands, it is possible to leave critical parts of the stent unencapsulated to facilitate flexibility and expansion. The longitudinal strips can be woven about the stent and later laminated into position to provide an anti-compression function as well as overall structural stability. Although a single stent can be used, these approaches lend themselves to use of a plurality of individual ring stents spaced apart along the inner ePTFE tube.

Claims48

Dependent claims

A vascular graft, comprising:

a first expanded polytetrafluoroethylene layer;
a support layer comprising at least one stent, wherein said support layer is placed around said first expanded polytetrafluoroethylene layer;
and
a second expanded polytetrafluoroethylene layer comprising a plurality of longitudinal strips.

1 more element

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Partial encapsulation of stents using strips and bands

Life of this patent

Partial encapsulation of stents using strips and bands

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims48