Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 22
Claim 1
Independent Claim
82 words
A biodegradable laminated fibrous mesh, comprising: a mesh layer (10) having first and second sides, said mesh layer being formed from a plurality of fibers of a first biodegradable polymer (12), said plurality of fibers being heat bonded together with a second biodegradable polymer (14); and at least one layer of a film of a biodegradable polymer (28 or 29) bonded to said mesh layer on at least one side of said mesh layer to form a sheet of biodegradable mesh-and-film material.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
132 words
A biodegradable mesh-and-film stent for use in maintaining the patency of blood vessels, said stent comprising: a mesh layer (10) having first and second sides, formed from a plurality of fibers of a first biodegradable polymer (12), said plurality of fibers being heat bonded together with a second biodegradable polymer (14); at least one layer of a film of a biodegradable polymer (28 or 29) bonded to said mesh layer on at least one side of said mesh layer to form a sheet of biodegradable mesh-and-film material; said sheet of biodegradable mesh-and-film material having first and second ends (62,64) and a main body portion (66) between said first and second ends, said sheet of biodegradable mesh-and-film material being rolled up into a cylindrical configuration whereby said first end overlaps said second end.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
184 words
A biodegradable mesh-and-film stent for use in maintaining the patency of blood vessels, said stent comprising: a mesh layer (10) having first and second sides, formed from a plurality of fibers of a first biodegradable polymer (12), said plurality of fibers being heat bonded together with a second biodegradable polymer (14); at least one layer of a film of a biodegradable polymer (28 or 29) bonded to said mesh layer on at least one side of said mesh layer to form a sheet of biodegradable mesh-and-film material; said sheet of biodegradable mesh-and-film material having first and second ends (62,64) and a main body portion (66) between said first and second ends, said first end having a surface defining a slot (70) for receiving said second end, said second end and said main body portion being insertable through said slot so as to form a loop (72), said second end having means for retaining (74) said second end inserted in said slot, and said main body portion having means for releasably engaging (76,78) said slot to adjustably retain said main body portion in said slot.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
30 words
The article of any preceding claim, wherein said first biodegradable polymer (12) is selected from the group consisting of polyglycolic acid, poly-L-lactic acid, polyorthoesters, polyanhydrides, polyiminocarbonates, and inorganic calcium phosphate.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
35 words
The article of any preceding claim, wherein said second biodegradable polymer(14) is selected from the group consisting of polycaprolactone, poly-DL-lactic acid, a combination of poly-L-lactic acid and polycaprolactone, polyorthoesters, aliphatic polycarbonates, Polyphosphazenes, and combinations thereof.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
39 words
The article of any preceding claim, wherein said mesh layer of fibers of a first biodegradable polymer (12) has a weave density of from about 25.4 to 508 fibers per centimeter (about 10 to about 200 fibers per inch).
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
25 words
The article of any preceding claim, wherein said mesh layer is laminated with a layer of film (28,29) on both sides to encapsulate the mesh.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
32 words
The article of any preceding claim, wherein said laminating layer of film (28 or 29) is formed from a biodegradable polymer selected from the group consisting of poly-DL-lactic acid and poly-L-lactic acid.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
26 words
The article of claim 3, wherein said means for retaining (74) said second end inserted in said slot comprises a widened portion of said second end.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
65 words
The article of claim 3, wherein said main body portion (66)includes first and second side edges (78), and said means in said main body portion for releasably engaging said slot to adjustably retain said main body portion in said slot comprises a plurality of serrations (76) along each side edge of the main body portion dimensioned to provide a firm interference fit in the slot.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
91 words
A method of making a biodegradable laminated fibrous mesh, comprising the steps of: forming a mesh (10) of a plurality of fibers of a first biodegradable polymer (12) and a second biodegradable polymer (14), said second biodegradable polymer melting at a temperature lower than said first biodegradable polymer; and laminating the mesh with at least one laminating film (28 or 29) to melt the second low temperature melting biodegradable polymer (14) at a temperature of from about 49°C to about 166°C (about 120°F to about 330°F) to form a mesh-and-film laminate.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
151 words
A method of making a biodegradable mesh-and-film stent for use in maintaining the patency of blood vessels, comprising the steps of: forming a sheet of biodegradable mesh-and-film material from a plurality of fibers of a first biodegradable polymer (12) and a second biodegradable polymer (14), said second biodegradable polymer melting at a lower temperature than the first biodegradable polymer; placing at least one laminating film (28 or 29) on at least one side of said mesh; heating said laminating film and mesh to melt said second biodegradable polymer and form a mesh-and-film laminate; and cutting the sheet of biodegradable mesh-and-film material in a shape to form said stent, said stent being formed to include first and second ends (62,64) and a main body portion (66) between said first and second ends; and rolling said sheet of biodegradable mesh-and-film material into a cylindrical configuration whereby said first end overlaps said second end.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
206 words
A method of making a biodegradable mesh-and-film stent for use in maintaining the patency of blood vessels, comprising the steps of: forming a mesh of a plurality of fibers of a first biodegradable polymer (12)and a second biodegradable polymer (14), said second biodegradable polymer melting at a lower temperature than the first biodegradable polymer; placing at least one laminating film 28 or 29) on at least one side of said mesh; heating said laminating film and mesh to melt said second biodegradable polymer (14) and form a mesh-and-film laminate; and cutting the mesh-and-film laminate in a shape to form said stent, said stent being formed to include first and second ends (62,64) and a main body portion (66) between said first and second ends, said first end having a surface defining a slot (70) for receiving said second end, said second end and said main body portion being formed to be insertable through said slot so as to form a loop (72), said second end being formed to include means for retaining (74) said second end inserted in said slot, and said main body portion being formed to have means for releasably engaging (76,78) said slot to adjustably retain said main body portion in said slot.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method of claim 12 or claim 13, wherein said laminating film and mesh are heated to a temperature of from about 49°C to about 166°C (about 120°F to about 330°F).
Claim 15
Independent Claim
34 words
The method of any of claims 11 to 14, wherein said step of laminating said mesh is carried out at a temperature of from about 82.2°C to about 132.2°C (about 180°F to about 270°F).
Claim 16
Independent Claim
38 words
The method of any of claims 11 to 15, wherein said step of forming a mesh comprises co-weaving a fiber of said first biodegradable polymer (12) with a fiber of said second, relatively lower-temperature melting biodegradable polymer( 14).
Claim 17
Independent Claim
42 words
The method of any of claims 11 to 16, wherein said step of forming a mesh comprises co-weaving a plurality of fibers of said first biodegradable polymer (12) and a plurality of fibers of said second, relatively lower-temperature melting biodegradable polymer (14).
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
36 words
The method of claim 17, wherein said step of co-weaving comprises co-weaving pairs of fibers of said first biodegradable polymer (12) and fibers of said second lower-temperature melting biodegradable polymer (14) in a plain weave pattern.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
61 words
The method of any of claims 11 to 15, wherein said step of forming a mesh comprises co-mingling said plurality fibers of said first biodegradable polymer (12) and a plurality of fibers of said second lower-temperature melting biodegradable polymer (14) to form a plurality of co-mingled fibers of said first and second polymers, and weaving said co-mingled fibers in a mesh.
Claim 20
Independent Claim
56 words
The method of any of claims 11 to 15, wherein said step of forming a mesh comprises coating said plurality of fibers of said first biodegradable polymer (12) with said second lower-temperature melting biodegradable polymer(14), and weaving a mesh of said plurality of said first biodegradable polymeric fibers coated with said second lower-temperature melting biodegradable polymer.
Claim 21
Independent Claim
66 words
The method of any of claims 11 to 15, wherein said step of forming a mesh comprises coating a plurality of individual fibers of said first biodegradable polymer (12) with said second, lower-temperature melting biodegradable polymer (14) to form a plurality of individually coated fibers of said first biodegradable polymer, and weaving a mesh of said plurality of individually coated fibers of said first biodegradable polymer
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 12 or 13, wherein said step of cutting comprises cutting said mesh-and-film laminate with a laser.