EP0407692A1
Expired / Lapsed
EP
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Reinforced graft assembly
Assignee: Corvita Corp
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Filing: 1990-04-02
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2010-04-02
Abstract
Abstract A reinforced graft assembly made from a vascular graft component and a reinforcing sleeve (20) component. The reinforcing sleeve (20) component may include one or more layers (32,31,41). The diameter of the inner surface of the most internal layer of the reinforcing sleeve component is approximately equal to or larger than the diameter of the vascular graft component thereby allowing the former to be fitted over the latter. The compliance of the sleeve (20) component is adjustable depending on the application needs, for example, by varying the angle at which the fibers used to form the sleeve (20) component are laid down and by the method used to join the two components.
Inventors
- 👤 Norman R. Dr. Weldon
- 👤 David C. Macgregor
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 07:01
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61F; A61F2/00; A61F2/02; A61F2/04; A61F2/06
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 32
Claim 1
Independent Claim
118 words
A reinforced graft assembly, comprising: (a) a compliant graft component, which is an elongated generally compliant blood transporting cylindrical synthetic, biologic or biosynthetic vascular graft having an outer diameter; and (b) a sleeve component, said sleeve component being a reinforcing sleeve capable of being fixed over said graft component, said sleeve including non-interwoven fibers bade from a biocompatible material, said sleeve component having an interior surface with a diameter equal to or larger than said outer diameter of said graft component, whereby said sleeve component provides toe primary load bearing function of the reinforced graft assembly, and said compliant graft component is isolated from said sleeve component and provides the blood transporting function of the reinforced graft assembly.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
118 words
A reinforced graft assembly, comprising: (a) a compliant graft component, which is an elongated generally compliant blood transporting cylindrical synthetic, biologic or biosynthetic vascular graft having an outer diameter; and (b) a sleeve component, said sleeve component being a reinforcing sleeve capable of being fixed over said graft component, said sleeve including non-interwoven fibers bade from a biocompatible material, said sleeve component having an interior surface with a diameter equal to or larger than said outer diameter of said graft component, whereby said sleeve component provides toe primary load bearing function of the reinforced graft assembly, and said compliant graft component is isolated from said sleeve component and provides the blood transporting function of the reinforced graft assembly.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
27 words
The reinforced graft assembly according to claim 1, wherein said fibers of said sleeve component have a diameter of between about 1 micron and about 100 microns.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
39 words
The reinforced graft assembly according to claim 2, wherein said fibers of said sleeve component are wound onto a mandrel at an angle in the range of 65 o to 85 o to a longitudinal axis of said mandrel.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
39 words
The reinforced graft assembly according to claim 2, wherein said fibers of said sleeve component are wound onto a mandrel at an angle in the range of 45 o to 85 o to a longitudinal axis of said mandrel.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
23 words
The reinforced graft assembly according to claim 4, wherein said biocompatible material has a durometer reading greater than that of Pellethane 80A polyurethane.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
23 words
The reinforced graft assembly according to claim 3, wherein said sleeve component is fixed over said compliant graft component by means of adhesives.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
23 words
The reinforced graft assembly according to claim 3, wherein said sleeve component is fixed over said compliant graft component by means of sutures.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
23 words
The reinforced graft assembly according to claim 5, wherein said sleeve component is fixed over said compliant graft component by means of adhesives.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
23 words
The reinforced graft assembly according to claim 5, wherein said sleeve component is fixed over said compliant graft component by means of sutures.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
79 words
A reinforced graft assembly, comprising: (a) a compliant graft component, said graft component having an inner surface and an outer surface, said graft component being made from synthethic, biologic, or biosynthetic materials; and (b) a sleeve component, said sleeve component being made from synthetic, biologic, or biosynthetic materials, said sleeve component having an inner diameter suitably sized so the sleeve componenc may be fitted over the graft component, whereby said sleeve component provides compliant reinforcement to said graft component.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
79 words
A reinforced graft assembly, comprising: (a) a compliant graft component, said graft component having an inner surface and an outer surface, said graft component being made from synthethic, biologic, or biosynthetic materials; and (b) a sleeve component, said sleeve component being made from synthetic, biologic, or biosynthetic materials, said sleeve component having an inner diameter suitably sized so the sleeve componenc may be fitted over the graft component, whereby said sleeve component provides compliant reinforcement to said graft component.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
30 words
The reinforced graft assembly according to claim 10, wherein said sleeve component includes one or more layers which individually or as a group provide said reinforcement to said graft component.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
25 words
The reinforced graft assembly according to claim 11, wherein said one or more layers includes an internal layer, an intermediate layer, and an external layer.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
26 words
The reinforced graft assembly according to claim 12, wherein said internal layer includes fibers having a diameter in the range of 1 micron to 100 microns.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
33 words
The reinforced graft assembly according to claim 12, wherein said intermediate layer includes fibers in the form of a ribbon or filament having a diameter in the range of 300 to 3,000 microns.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
26 words
The reinforced graft assembly according to claim 12, wherein said external layer includes fibers having a diameter in the range of 1 micron to 100 microns.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
24 words
The reinforced graft assembly according to claim 12, wherein said internal layer, intermediate layer, and external layer include fibers wound consecutively over a mandrel.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
33 words
The reinforced graft assembly according to claim 16, wherein said intermediate layer is wound at an angle in the range of 35 o to 85 o to a longitudinal axis of said mandrel.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
23 words
The reinforced graft assembly according to claim 13, wherein said fibers of said internal layer are made from polymeric material integrally bonded together.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
25 words
The reinforced graft assembly according to claim 14, wherein said ribbon or filament of said intermediate layer is made from polymeric material integrally bonded together.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
23 words
The reinforced graft assembly according to claim 15, wherein said fibers of said external layer are polymeric fibers which are integrally bonded together.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
36 words
The reinforced graft assembly according to claim 12, wherein said intermediate layer includes a plurality of fibers spun longitudinally outward from edges of said intermediate layer to aid in protection of said intermediate layer from biodegradation.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
35 words
The reinforced graft assembly according to claim 12, wherein said intermediate layer includes a soft polymer applied to ends of the fibers of said intermediate layer to aid in protection of said assembly from biodegradation.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
24 words
The reinforced graft assembly according to claim 12, wherein said sleeve component includes manicured ends to aid in protection of said assembly from biodegradation.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
96 words
A reinforced graft assembly particularly for cardiovascular use, said assembly comprising: (a) a reinforcing component, said reinforcing component having a tubular structure of one or more layers of non-interwoven fibers of biocompatible material, said reinforcing component being capable of bearing a load imparted by or onto said assembly; and (b) a graft component, said graft component having a tubular structure made from synthetic, biologic, or biosynthetic materials, said graft component being suitable for transporting blood, said graft component sized so said reinforcing component may be fitted over said graft component to form said reinforced graft assembly.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
96 words
A reinforced graft assembly particularly for cardiovascular use, said assembly comprising: (a) a reinforcing component, said reinforcing component having a tubular structure of one or more layers of non-interwoven fibers of biocompatible material, said reinforcing component being capable of bearing a load imparted by or onto said assembly; and (b) a graft component, said graft component having a tubular structure made from synthetic, biologic, or biosynthetic materials, said graft component being suitable for transporting blood, said graft component sized so said reinforcing component may be fitted over said graft component to form said reinforced graft assembly.
Claim 28
Independent Claim
121 words
A method of forming a compliant and reinforced graft assembly, which method comprises providing a reinforced sleeve component by a procedure including: (a) winding extruded fibers made from biocompatible material onto a mandrel to form an internal layer of a reinforcing sleeve component; (b) winding extruded fibers made from said biocompatible material and drawn in the shape of a ribbon or filament onto said internal layer to form an intermediate layer of said reinforcing sleeve component; and (c) winding extruded fibers made from said biocompatible material onto said intermediate layer to form an external layer of said reinforcing sleeve component; and (d) sliding said reinforcing sleeve component thus formed over a compliant graft to provide said compliant and reinforced graft assembly.
Claim 29
Independent Claim
121 words
A method of forming a compliant and reinforced graft assembly, which method comprises providing a reinforced sleeve component by a procedure including: (a) winding extruded fibers made from biocompatible material onto a mandrel to form an internal layer of a reinforcing sleeve component; (b) winding extruded fibers made from said biocompatible material and drawn in the shape of a ribbon or filament onto said internal layer to form an intermediate layer of said reinforcing sleeve component; and (c) winding extruded fibers made from said biocompatible material onto said intermediate layer to form an external layer of said reinforcing sleeve component; and (d) sliding said reinforcing sleeve component thus formed over a compliant graft to provide said compliant and reinforced graft assembly.
Claim 30
Independent Claim
68 words
A method of forming a compliant and reinforced graft assembly, which method comprises: forming a reinforcing sleeve component by winding fibers made from biocompatible material into a tubular shape said winding being without weaving the fibers together; and sliding said reinforcing sleeve component thus formed over a compliant graft to form said compliant and reinforced graft assembly in which the compliance of said compliant graft is substantially maintained.
Claim 31
Independent Claim
68 words
A method of forming a compliant and reinforced graft assembly, which method comprises: forming a reinforcing sleeve component by winding fibers made from biocompatible material into a tubular shape said winding being without weaving the fibers together; and sliding said reinforcing sleeve component thus formed over a compliant graft to form said compliant and reinforced graft assembly in which the compliance of said compliant graft is substantially maintained.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method according to claim 26, wherein said reinforcing sleeve component is further treated by imparting an atraumatic shape to longitudinal ends of said fibers thereof.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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