Endovascular graft joint and method for manufacture
A joint and method for producing a joint in an endovascular graft. In one embodiment, a flap of a flexible material portion of an endovascular graft is folded about a portion of an expandable member to form a loop portion. The flap is secured in the loop configuration so that tensile force on the expandable member is transferred into a shear force on the fixed portion of the flap.
1 - 37 . (Canceled)
38 . A method for securing a transversely oriented member to a flexible material portion of an endovascular graft or section thereof comprising:
a) disposing the transversely oriented member in proximity to a flap in a flexible material portion of an endovascular graft or section thereof;
b) folding the flap over at least a portion of the transversely oriented member to form a looped portion of the flap about the transversely oriented member; and
c) securing the flap in the looped configuration.
39 . The method of claim 38 wherein the flap is comprised of a portion of a layer of flexible material and the flap is secured to the layer of flexible material.
40 . The method of claim 38 wherein the flap is secured in the looped configuration with adhesive.
41 . The method of claim 38 wherein the flap is comprised of a portion of a first layer of flexible material and the flap secured to a portion of a second layer of flexible material.
42 . The method of claim 38 wherein the flexible material comprises ePTFE.
43 . The method of claim 42 wherein the flap is secured in the looped configuration by thermomechanical compaction.
44 . The method of claim 42 wherein the flap is secured in the looped configuration with FEP or PFA.
45 . The method of claim 42 wherein the ePTFE material of the flap is sintered after being secured in the looped configuration.
46 . A method for securing a circumferentially oriented member to a flexible material portion of an endovascular graft or section thereof comprising:
a) disposing a circumferentially oriented member in proximity to a flap in a flexible material portion of an endovascular graft or section thereof;
b) folding the flap over at least a portion of the circumferentially oriented member to form a looped portion of the flap about the circumferentially oriented member; and
c) securing the flap in the looped configuration.
47 . The method of claim 46 wherein the flap is comprised of a portion of a layer of flexible material and the flap is secured to the layer of flexible material.
48 . The method of claim 46 wherein the flap is secured in the looped configuration with adhesive.
49 . The method of claim 46 wherein the flap is comprised of a portion of a first layer of flexible material and the flap secured to a portion of a second layer of flexible material.
50 . The method of claim 46 wherein the flexible material comprises ePTFE.
51 . The method of claim 50 wherein the flap is secured in the looped configuration by thermomechanical compaction.
52 . The method of claim 50 wherein the flap is secured in the looped configuration with FEP or PFA.
53 . The method of claim 50 wherein the ePTFE material of the flap is sintered after being secured in the looped configuration.
54 . A method for securing an expandable member to a flexible material portion of an endovascular graft or section thereof comprising:
a) disposing the expandable member in proximity to a flap in a flexible material portion of an endovascular graft or section thereof;
b) folding the flap over at least a portion of the expandable member to form a looped portion of the flap about the expandable member; and
c) securing the flap in the looped configuration.
55 . The method of claim 54 wherein the flap comprises a portion of a layer of flexible material and the flap is secured to the layer of flexible material.
56 . The method of claim 54 wherein the flap is secured in the looped configuration with adhesive.
57 . The method of claim 54 wherein the flap comprises a portion of a first layer of flexible material and the flap secured to a portion of a second layer of flexible material.
58 . The method of claim 54 wherein the flexible material comprises ePTFE.
59 . The method of claim 58 wherein the flap is secured in the looped configuration by thermomechanical compaction.
60 . The method of claim 58 wherein the flap is secured in the looped configuration with FEP or PFA.
61 . The method of claim 58 wherein the ePTFE material of the flap is sintered after being secured in the looped configuration.