# US 8,783,316 B2 · Apparatus for manufacturing an endovascular graft section > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 8,783,316 B2 - Document ID: US8783316B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 12/697,504 - Filed: 2010-02-01 - Published: 2010-06-03 - Granted: 2014-07-22 - Earliest claimed: 2001-12-20 - Assignees: TriVascular, Inc. - Applicants: Michael V. Chobotov; Patrick Stephens - Inventors: Michael V. Chobotov; Patrick Stephens - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8783316B2 ## CPC - B29C 65/18: using heated tools - A61F 2/07: Stent-grafts - B29C 53/44: rotatable about the axis of the article - B29C 65/48: using adhesives {, i.e. using supplementary joining material; solvent bonding} - B29C 65/4815: {Hot melt adhesives, e.g. thermoplastic adhesives} - B29C 66/1122: {Single lap to lap joints, i.e. overlap joints (B29C66/45, B29C66/472, B29C66/52272 take precedence)} - B29C 66/12261: {the two joint-segments being bevelled, e.g. the two joint-segments forming a V} - B29C 66/43: {Joining a relatively small portion of the surface of said articles (B29C66/45 takes precedence)} - B29C 66/4322: {by joining a single sheet to itself (B29C66/4332 takes precedence)} - B29C 66/438: {Joining sheets for making hollow-walled, channelled structures or multi-tubular articles} - B29C 66/49: {Internally supporting the, e.g. tubular, article during joining (B29C66/63 takes precedence)} - B29C 66/494: {using an inflatable core} - B29C 66/65: {with a relative motion between the article and the welding tool (B29C65/10, B29C65/12 take precedence)} - B29C 66/71: {characterised by the composition of the plastics material of the parts to be joined (welding bar compositions B29C65/125)} - B29C 66/73711: {oriented} - B29C 66/73712: {mono-axially} - B29C 66/73713: {bi-axially or multi-axially} - B29C 66/81422: {being convex} - B29C 66/8161: {said pressing elements being supported or backed-up by springs or by resilient material} - B29C 66/8221: {Scissor or lever mechanisms, i.e. involving a pivot point} - B29C 66/8222: {Pinion or rack mechanisms} - B29C 66/836: {Moving relative to and tangentially to the parts to be joined, e.g. transversely to the displacement of the parts to be joined, e.g. using a X-Y table (B29C66/65 takes precedence)} - B29C 66/91411: {of the parts to be joined, e.g. the joining process taking the temperature of the parts to be joined into account} - B29C 66/91421: {of the joining tools} - B29C 66/91445: {by steps} - B29C 66/919: {characterised by specific temperature, heat or thermal flux values or ranges (specific electrical resistance values B29C66/81262)} - B29C 66/91933: {higher than said fusion temperature} - B29C 66/9241: {by controlling or regulating the pressure, the force or the mechanical power} - B29C 66/9261: {by controlling or regulating the displacement of the joining tools} - B29C 66/929: {characterized by specific pressure, force, mechanical power or displacement values or ranges} - A61F 2/89: the wire-like elements comprising two or more adjacent rings flexibly connected by separate members - A61F 2002/075: {the stent being loosely attached to the graft material, e.g. by stitching} - A61F 2230/0078: hyperboloidal - A61F 2250/0003: having an inflatable pocket filled with fluid, e.g. liquid or gas - A61F 2250/0039: differing in diameter - B29C 53/42: using internal forming surfaces, e.g. mandrels - B29C 66/81812: {the welding jaws being cooled from the outside, e.g. by blowing a gas or spraying a liquid} - B29C 66/863: {Robotised, e.g. mounted on a robot arm} - B29K 2027/18: PTFE, i.e. polytetrafluoroethylene {, e.g. ePTFE, i.e. expanded polytetrafluoroethylene} - B29L 2022/02: Inflatable articles (balls B29L2031/54 {; inner tyres B29L2023/245}) - B29L 2022/022: {Balloons} - B29L 2031/7534: {Cardiovascular protheses} - B29L 2031/7546: {Surgical equipment} - Y10T 156/1002: with permanent bending or reshaping or surface deformation of self sustaining lamina - Y10T 156/1036: Bending of one piece blank and joining edges to form article - B29C: SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING (making preforms B29B11/00; making laminated products by combining previously unconnected layers which become one product whose layers will remain together B32B37/00 - B32B41/00) - 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) - B29K: INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASSES B29B, B29C OR B29D, RELATING TO MOULDING MATERIALS OR TO MATERIALS FOR {MOULDS, } REINFORCEMENTS, FILLERS OR PREFORMED PARTS, e.g. INSERTS - B29L: INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASS B29C, RELATING TO PARTICULAR ARTICLES - Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION ## Abstract A device and method for the manufacture of medical devices, specifically, endovascular grafts, or sections thereof. Layers of fusible material are disposed upon a shape forming member and seams formed between the layers in a configuration that can produce inflatable channels in desired portions of the graft. After creation of the seams, the fusible material of the inflatable channels may be fixed while the channels are in an expanded state. A five axis robotic seam forming apparatus may be used to create the seams in the layers of fusible material. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A seam forming apparatus configured to create one or more seams between overlapped layers of fusible material of an endovascular graft section, comprising: a shape forming mandrel; a mount system comprising a chuck and a line center unit for securing the shape forming mandrel therein between; a heated stylus having a tip moveable relative to the shape forming mandrel secured between the chuck and the line center unit in a controllable pattern; and at least five motors controlled by a preprogrammed database using computer numerical control which are configured to move the tip of the heated stylus and the shape forming mandrel relative to one and the other in a different degree of freedom for each motor; wherein a longitudinal axis of the tip of the heated stylus is disposed at an angle from about 5 degrees to about 60 degrees relative to an axis which is tangential or parallel to a surface portion of the shape forming mandrel; wherein the heated stylus pivots about a pivot axis under spring-loaded tension; and wherein the spring-loaded force at the tip of the heated stylus is about 0.5 to about 100 grams. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the heated stylus is spring-loaded in a lateral direction. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the heated stylus is spring-loaded in an axial direction. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the heated stylus is configured to operate at a temperature of about 330 to about 525 degrees Celsius. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1 wherein the predetermined pattern for seam formation includes an inflatable channel network in a graft body portion of the endovascular graft, or section thereof. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1 wherein the predetermined pattern for seam formation includes at least one circumferential inflatable channel in a graft body portion of the endovascular graft, or section thereof. ### Claim 7 A seam forming apparatus configured to create one or more seams between overlapped layers of fusible material of an endovascular graft section, comprising: a base: a mount system disposed in the base, the mount system comprising a chuck, a line center unit for securing a shape forming mandrel therein between and a first motor, the first motor mechanically coupled to the chuck to rotate the chuck in a controllable manner; a vertical support platform extending vertical upward from the base, the vertical support platform comprising a vertical car movable in a vertical direction in a controllable manner by a second motor; a first horizontal translation rack secured to the vertical car; a horizontal car slidably engaged on the first horizontal translation rack, the horizontal car being movable in a horizontal direction in a controllable manner by a third motor; a second horizontal translation rack disposed on the horizontal car; a stylus rotation unit slidably engaged with the second horizontal translation rack, the stylus rotation unit being movable towards and away from the vertical car and the vertical support platform in a controllable manner by a fourth motor; a stylus rotation shaft extending vertically downward from the stylus rotation unit, the stylus rotation shaft being rotatable in a controller manner by a fifth motor; and a stylus mount system secured to the stylus rotation shaft, the stylus mount system comprising a stylus; wherein the first, second, third, fourth and fifth motors define a plurality of motors controllable by a preprogrammed database using computer numerical control, the plurality of motors being configured to move the stylus relative to the shape forming mandrel in a predetermined pattern in a different degree of freedom for each motor. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The device of claim 7 wherein the stylus is spring-loaded in a lateral direction. ### Claim 9 (depends on 7) The device of claim 7 wherein the stylus is spring-loaded in an axial direction. ### Claim 10 (depends on 7) The device of claim 7 wherein the stylus is configured to operate at a temperature of about 330 to about 525 degrees Celsius. ### Claim 11 (depends on 7) The device of claim 7 wherein the stylus pivots about a pivot axis under spring-loaded tension. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The device of claim 11 wherein the spring-loaded force at the distal extremity of the stylus is about 0.5 to about 100 grams. ### Claim 13 (depends on 7) The device of claim 7 wherein the shape forming mandrel supports the overlapped portion of the layers of fusible material and provides a substrate to oppose the force of the stylus tip. ### Claim 14 (depends on 7) The device of claim 7 wherein the predetermined pattern for seam formation includes an inflatable channel network in a graft body portion of the endovascular graft, or section thereof. ### Claim 15 (depends on 7) The device of claim 7 wherein the predetermined pattern for seam formation includes at least one circumferential inflatable channel in a graft body portion of the endovascular graft, or section thereof.