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US 2004/0164445 A1Published application
High density microwall expanded polytetrafluoroethylene
AssigneeBard Peripheral Vascular, Inc.
InventorsTim Nieman, Randy Earl Saylor, Robert Hunkins, Robert Calcote
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A high density microwall ePTFE structure and a method for making, involving the manipulation of a standard extruded ePTFE graft. The final product has the desired characteristics of high density, reduced wall-thickness, above-average radial strength and enhanced suture retention.
Claims15
A method for producing a high density microwall (HDM) expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (ePTFE) structure, comprising the steps of:
- providing an ePTFE tube having a first inner diameter;
- radially expanding said ePTFE tube to form a radially expanded tube having a second inner diameter greater than said first inner diameter;
- calendering said radially expanded tube while maintaining said second inner diameter substantially constant to form a calendered tube;
- and
- heating said calendered tube above the crystalline melt-point for polytetrafluoroethylene while maintaining said second inner diameter substantially constant to form said HDM ePTFE structure.
2 more elements
A method for producing a high density microwall (HDM) expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (ePTFE) structure, comprising the steps of:
- providing a non-radially expanded ePTFE tube having a first inner diameter;
- calendering said ePTFE tube while maintaining said first inner diameter substantially constant to form a calendered tube;
- and
- heating said calendered tube above the crystalline melt-point for polytetrafluoroethylene while maintaining said first inner diameter substantially constant to form said HDM ePTFE structure.
1 more element
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.