Method for manufacturing stent-grafts
AssigneeAnson Medical Limited
InventorsPeter Phillips, Adrian Michael Woodward, Andrew Richard Buchanan Halket, Gail Beaton, Carl John Perks, Clive Graham Angel, Timothy Faulkner Frost
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A sewing machine is provided which is capable of sewing reinforcing wire to tubular grafts in order to form stent grafts. A bobbin (which may be seated in a shuttle) carries a bottom thread through the bore of the tubular graft and forms a stitch in combination with a top thread carried on a needle which pierces the graft wall.
Claims20
A method for stitching thread to the wall of a tubular medical implant having a straight section with substantially parallel walls and at least one tapered section with tapered walls, the method comprising the steps of:
- a. driving a first thread through the wall and into the bore of the implant using a needle,
- b. forming a loop of the first thread,
- c. moving a bobbin carrying a second thread through an open end of the implant into the bore,
- d. passing the second thread through the loop formed in the first thread,
- e. closing the loop in order to form a stitch, and
- f. withdrawing the bobbin from the bore,
- wherein the implant is tilted in order that the axis along which the bobbin travels is substantially parallel to the wall in which the stitch is to be formed.
A device for stitching thread to the surface of a tubular medical implant, comprising:
- a. a support for the implant,
- b. a needle to drive a first thread through the surface and into the bore of the implant,
- c. a bobbin for carrying a second thread,
- d. means for moving the bobbin through an open end of the implant into the bore in order to form a stitch in combination with the first thread, and
- d. means for tilting the implant relative to the direction of movement of the implant.
A method for stitching thread to the wall of a tubular medical implant having a straight section with substantially parallel walls and at least one tapered section with tapered walls, the method comprising the steps of:
- a. driving a first thread through the wall of the straight section of the implant and into the bore of the implant using a needle,
- b. forming a loop of the first thread,
- c. moving a bobbin carrying a second thread through an open end of the implant into the bore,
- d. passing the second thread through the loop formed in the first thread,
- e. closing the loop in order to form a stitch,
- f. withdrawing the bobbin from the bore,
- g. tilting the implant so that one of the walls of the tapered section of the implant is substantially parallel to the direction of movement of the bobbin, and
- h. repeating steps a to f in order to form a stitch in the tapered wall.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.