Multi-furcated ePTFE grafts and stent-graft prostheses and methods of making the same
View Patent ↗Methods of making multi-furcated grafts and, more particularly, a bifurcated graft from at least one ePTFE member are provided. Also provided are grafts made according to such methods.
1. A graft comprising:
(i) a trunk;
(ii) at least one first branch comprising a first member; and
(iii) at least one second branch comprising a second member;
wherein said first branch and said second branch define at least one crotch area, wherein at least a portion of said first member overlaps with at least a portion of said second member to form an overlapping section, and wherein at least one of said members comprises a continuous, uninterrupted section of PTFE which spans at least a portion of said crotch area.
2. The graft of claim 1 , wherein said PTFE comprises ePTFE.
3. The graft of claim 1 , wherein said PTFE is unsintered, partially sintered or completely sintered.
4. The graft of claim 1 , wherein said graft further comprises at least one other member comprising PTFE.
5. The graft of claim 4 , wherein said at least one other member comprises at least one flap.
6. The graft of claim 5 , wherein said flap covers said crotch area of said graft.
7. The graft of claim 4 , wherein said at least one other member comprises at least one strip.
8. The graft of claim 7 , wherein said strip covers said crotch area of said graft.
9. The graft of claim 1 , wherein said overlapping section spans at least a portion of said crotch area.
10. The graft of claim 9 , wherein said overlapping section comprises a continuous, uninterrupted section of PTFE.
11. The graft of claim 1 , wherein at least one of said members is tubular or substantially tubular.
12. The graft of claim 1 , wherein at least one of said members has a non-uniform shape.
13. The graft of claim 1 , wherein at least one of said members is formed from a tubular member comprising ePTFE or from a sheet comprising ePTFE.
14. The graft of claim 1 , wherein at least one of said members has at least a first diameter and at least a second diameter, and wherein said second diameter is different than said first diameter.
15. A graft comprising:
(i) a front side and a back side;
(ii) at least two branches defining a crotch area;
(iii) at least one sheet of ePTFE which wraps around the graft and comprises a continuous, uninterrupted section of ePTFE which spans the crotch area on the front side of the graft; and
(iv) at least one sheet of ePTFE which wraps around the graft and comprises a continuous, uninterrupted section of ePTFE which spans the crotch area on the back side of the graft.
16. The graft of claim 15 , wherein the crotch area comprises a bifurcation point.
17. A graft comprising:
(i) a trunk;
(ii) a crotch area; and
(iii) at least one tubular member having a substantially flared end; wherein said tubular member comprises a continuous, uninterrupted section of ePTFE which spans said crotch area.
18. A graft comprising:
(i) an inner layer comprising at least one tubular member comprising a radially expanded portion and at least one branch portion;
(ii) an outer layer comprising at least one tubular member comprising a radially expanded portion and at least one branch portion;
wherein said radially expanded portion of said outer layer surrounds said radially expanded portion of said inner layer.
19. The graft of claim 18 , wherein said graft comprises a crotch area.
20. The graft of claim 19 , wherein at least one of said layer comprises continuous, uninterrupted eTPFE which spans the crotch area.