Reinforcing structure for cardiovascular graft

Claim 2

A reinforced graft particularly adapted for cardiovascular use, said graft comprising: a tubular structure having a central lumen and comprising collagenous tissue having a generally tubular shape and a single monofilament wound in a coil with spacing between the turns of the coil to permit the tubular structure to be bent without crimping, the turns having "radial compliance", i.e., the turns going from one pitch to another pitch during bending, and said monofilament having a smaller single monofilament painted thereon in an overlapping manner to form a textured mesh-type surface with random interstices into which tissue can grow, said coiled monofilament being situated externally of said lumen.

Claim 3

The graft of claim 1 wherein said coiled monofilament is centrally located within the collagenous tissue.

Claim 4

The graft of claim 1 wherein said coiled monofilament surrounds said collagenous tissue.

Claim 5

The graft of claim 1 wherein said coiled monofilament is situated about the lumen of said collagenous tissue.

Claim 6

The graft of claim 1 wherein said filament is a coiled monofilament.

Claim 7

The graft of claim 5 wherein turns said coiled monofilament have a pitch of approximately 60°.

Claim 8

The graft of claim 3 wherein said filament is a coiled monofilament.

Claim 9

The graft of claim 1 wherein said coiled monofilament has a pitch of approximately 30° to 70°.

Claim 10

The graft of claim 1 wherein said fibrous structure is a coiled textured surface monofilament.

Claim 11

The graft of claim 1 wherein turns of said coiled monofilament have a pitch of approximately 60°.

Claim 12

The graft of claim 1 wherein said coiled monofilament is made of polymeric material.

Claim 13

The graft of claim 11 wherein said polymeric material is polyethylene.

Claim 14

The graft of claim 11 wherein said polymeric material is polycarbonate.

Claim 15

The graft of claim 11 wherein said polymeric material is polyurethane.

Claim 16

The graft of claim 11 wherein said polymeric material is polyether sulfone.

Claim 17

The graft of claim 11 wherein said polymeric material is polypropylene.

Claim 18

The graft of claim 9 wherein said monofilament is coated with a filament of polymeric material to provide said textured surface.

Claim 19

The graft of claim 1 wherein said smaller monofilament is applied to the surface of the monofilament by the random intertwining or painting of a smaller monofilament of the polymeric material on said monofilament before coiling thereof.

Claim 20

The graft of claim 1 wherein said coiled monofilament is set by thermoforming.

Claim 21

The graft of claim 1 wherein said collagenous tissue embeds itself around the coiled monofilament by implantation of the structure within a living host.

Claim 22

A reinforced graft particularly adapted for cardiovascular use, said graft comprising a tubular structure having a central lumen and comprising collagenous tissue, a single monofilament wound in a coil with spacing between the turns of the coil to permit the tubular structure to be bent within crimping, the turns having "radial compliance", i.e., the turns going from one pitch to another pitch during bending, and said monofilament having a smaller single monofilament painted thereon in an overlapping manner to form a textured mesh-type surface with random interstices into which tissue can grow, said coiled monofilament being situated externally of said lumen, and a tube of mesh screen disposed within said collagenous tissue and inwardly of said wound monofilament generally coaxial with the axis of the lumen of said tubular structure for further reinforcing the graft.

Claim 23

A reinforced graft particularly adapted for cardiovascular use, said graft comprising a tubular structure having a central lumen and comprising collagenous tissue, a single monofilament wound in a coil with spacing between the turns of the coil to permit the tubular structure to be bent within crimping, the turns having "radial compliance", i.e., the turns going from one pitch to another pitch during bending, and said monofilament having a smaller single monofilament painted thereon in an overlapping manner to form a textured mesh-type surface with random interstices into which tissue can grow, said coiled monofilament being situated externally of said lumen, and a tube of mesh screen disposed within said collagenous tissue and inwardly of said wound monofilament generally coaxial with the axis of the lumen of said tubular structure for further reinforcing the graft.

Claim 24

The graft of claim 5 wherein said coiled monofilament is made of metal.

Claim 25

The graft of claim 22 wherein said metal is stainless steel.

Claim 26

The graft of claim 22 wherein said metal is nitinol.

Claim 27

The graft of claim 22 wherein said metal is elgiloy.

Claim 28

A reinforced graft particularly adapted for cardiovascular use comprising a tubular structure having a central lumen, said tubular structure being made of collagenous tissue and including in said tubular structure a single monofilament wound in a coil with spacing between the turns of the coil to permit the tubular structure to be bent without crimping, the turns having "radial compliance", i.e., the turns going from one pitch to another pitch during bending, and said monofilament having a smaller single monofilament painted thereon in an overlapping manner to form a textured mesh-type surface with random interstices into which tissue can grow, said coiled monofilament being situated within said collagenous tissue externally of said lumen.

Claim 29

A reinforced graft particularly adapted for cardiovascular use comprising a tubular structure having a central lumen, said tubular structure being made of collagenous tissue and including in said tubular structure a single monofilament wound in a coil with spacing between the turns of the coil to permit the tubular structure to be bent without crimping, the turns having "radial compliance", i.e., the turns going from one pitch to another pitch during bending, and said monofilament having a smaller single monofilament painted thereon in an overlapping manner to form a textured mesh-type surface with random interstices into which tissue can grow, said coiled monofilament being situated within said collagenous tissue externally of said lumen.

Claim 30

The graft of claim 26 wherein said monofilament is coiled in turns having a pitch between approximately 30° and approximately 70°.

Claim 31

The graft of claim 26 wherein said monofilament is made of polymeric material.

Claim 32

The graft of claim 26 wherein said smaller monofilament is a filament of polymeric material.

Claim 33

The graft of claim 29 wherein said smaller monofilament is applied to the surface of said monofilament by random intertwining or painting of said smaller monofilament on the monofilament before coiling thereof.

Claim 34

The graft of claim 26 wherein said coiled monofilament is set by thermoforming.

Claim 35

A reinforced graft particularly adapted for cardiovascular use comprising a tubular structure having a central lumen, said tubular structure being made of collagenous tissue and including a single monofilament wound in a coil with spacing between the turns of the coil to permit the tubular structure to be bent without crimping, the turns having "radial compliance", i.e., the turns going from one pitch to another pitch during bending, and said monofilament having a smaller single monofilament painted thereon in an overlapping manner to form a textured mesh-type surface with random interstices into which tissue can grow, said coiled monofilament being situated externally of said collagenous tissue.

Claim 36

A reinforced graft particularly adapted for cardiovascular use comprising a tubular structure having a central lumen, said tubular structure being made of collagenous tissue and including a single monofilament wound in a coil with spacing between the turns of the coil to permit the tubular structure to be bent without crimping, the turns having "radial compliance", i.e., the turns going from one pitch to another pitch during bending, and said monofilament having a smaller single monofilament painted thereon in an overlapping manner to form a textured mesh-type surface with random interstices into which tissue can grow, said coiled monofilament being situated externally of said collagenous tissue.

Claim 37

The graft of claim 32 wherein said monofilament is coiled in turns having a pitch between approximately 30° and approximately 70°.

Claim 38

The graft of claim 32 wherein said monofilament is made of polymeric material.

Claim 39

The graft of claim 32 wherein said monofilament is a filament of polymeric material.

Claim 40

The graft of claim 35 wherein said smaller monofilament is applied to the surface of said monofilament by random intertwining or painting of said smaller monofilament on the monofilament.

Claim 41

The graft of claim 32 wherein said coil is set by thermoforming.

Claim 42

The graft of claim 1 wherein said monofilament is approximately 1/2 mm thick.

Claim 43

The graft of claim 1 wherein said smaller monofilament has a diameter of approximately 1 to 40 microns.

Claim 44

The graft of claim 1 having a wall thickness from said lumen to the outer surface of said graft of between 0.05 mm and 0.25 cm.

Claim 45

The graft of claim 26 wherein said smaller monofilament has a diameter of approximately 1 to 40 microns.

Claim 46

The graft of claim 36 wherein said smaller monofilament has a diameter of approximately 1 to 40 microns.