GREEN FLUOROPOLYMER TUBE AND ENDOVASCULAR PROSTHESIS FORMED USING SAME

• Main Authors: BRODEUR, CHRISTOPHER, B, GIRTON, TIMOTHY, S, HILL, JASON, P, SOGARD, DAVID, J
• Format: Patent
• Language: English; French
• Published: 08.05.2003
• Edition: 7
• Subjects: AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING; BANDAGES, DRESSINGS OR ABSORBENT PADS; CHEMICAL ASPECTS OF BANDAGES, DRESSINGS, ABSORBENT PADS, ORSURGICAL ARTICLES; DEVICES PROVIDING PATENCY TO, OR PREVENTING COLLAPSING OF,TUBULAR STRUCTURES OF THE BODY, E.G. STENTS; DISINFECTION, STERILISATION, OR DEODORISATION OF AIR; FILTERS IMPLANTABLE INTO BLOOD VESSELS; FIRST-AID KITS; FOMENTATION; HUMAN NECESSITIES; HYGIENE; MATERIALS FOR BANDAGES, DRESSINGS, ABSORBENT PADS, OR SURGICALARTICLES; MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; METHODS OR APPARATUS FOR STERILISING MATERIALS OR OBJECTS INGENERAL; ORTHOPAEDIC, NURSING OR CONTRACEPTIVE DEVICES; PERFORMING OPERATIONS; PROSTHESES; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDEDFOR; SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; TRANSPORTING; TREATMENT OR PROTECTION OF EYES OR EARS; WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE, IN GENERAL

The present invention is directed to a green fluoropolymer tube which has a wall thickness of about 250 microns or less, preferably about 200 microns or less, and more preferably about 125 microns or less. With such thinness, the green tube may be formed into a tube of expanded fluoropolymer having a wall thickness of about 250 microns or less, preferably about 200 mum or less and more preferably about 125 microns of less. Such an expanded fluoropolymer tube is particularly well-suited for use as an endovascular prosthesis, such as a graft, or in a stent-graft, because of its flexibility and strength. la présente invention concerne une tube en fluoropolymère vert dont l'épaisseur de la paroi est d'environ 250 microns ou moins, de préférence 200 microns ou moins et mieux encore 125 microns ou moins. Avec une telle minceur, le tube vert peut être formé en un tube de fluoropolymère expansé dont l'épaisseur de la paroi est d'environ 250 microns ou moins, de préférence 200 microns ou moins et mieux encore 125 microns ou moins. Un tel tube en fluoropolymère expansé convient particulièrement bien pour la réalisation d'une prothèse endovasculaire telle qu'une greffe ou un stent-greffe compte tenu de sa souplesse et de sa robustesse.