Granted Patent B2

US 7,682,475 · App. 11/870,748 · Granted Mar 23, 2010

Abstract

Claims (35)

1. A method for securing a transversely oriented member to a flexible material portion of an endovascular graft or section thereof comprising:

a) providing a first layer of flexible graft material;

b) providing a flap of flexible graft material over a portion of the first layer;

c) disposing the transversely oriented member in proximity to the flap;

d) 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;

e) securing the flap in the looped configuration;

f) providing a second layer of flexible graft material;

g) disposing the second layer over the flap and over at least a portion of the first layer; and

h) securing the first and second layers to each other at a location distal from the flap to define a flexible material portion of an endovascular graft or section thereof.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the flap is comprised of a portion of a third layer of flexible graft material and the flap is secured to the third layer of flexible graft material.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the flap is secured in the looped configuration with adhesive.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the flap is comprised of a portion of the first layer of flexible material and the flap secured to a portion of the second layer of flexible material.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the flexible graft material comprises ePTFE.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein the flap is secured in the looped configuration by thermomechanical compaction.

7. The method of claim 5 wherein the flap is secured in the looped configuration with FEP or PFA.

8. The method of claim 5 wherein the ePTFE material of the flap is sintered after being secured in the looped configuration.

9. A method for securing a member to a flexible material portion of an endovascular graft or section thereof comprising:

a) providing a first layer of flexible graft material;

b) providing a flap of flexible graft material over a portion of the first layer;

c) disposing the member in proximity to the flap;

d) folding the flap over at least a portion of the member to form a looped portion of the flap about the member;

e) securing the flap in the looped configuration;

f) providing a second layer of flexible graft material;

g) disposing the second layer over the flap and over at least a portion of the first layer; and

h) securing the first and second layers to each other at a location distal from the flap to define a flexible material portion of an endovascular graft or section thereof.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein the member is a transversely oriented member.

11. The method of claim 9 wherein the member is a circumferentially oriented member.

12. The method of claim 9 wherein the flap is comprised of a portion of a third layer of flexible graft material and the flap is secured to the third layer of flexible graft material.

13. The method of claim 9 wherein the flap is secured in the looped configuration with adhesive.

14. The method of claim 9 wherein the flap is comprised of a portion of the first layer of flexible material and the flap secured to a portion of the second layer of flexible material.

15. The method of claim 9 wherein the flexible graft material comprises ePTFE.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein the flap is secured in the looped configuration by thermomechanical compaction.

17. The method of claim 15 wherein the flap is secured in the looped configuration with FEP or PFA.

18. The method of claim 15 wherein the ePTFE material of the flap is sintered after being secured in the looped configuration.

19. The method of claim 9 wherein the member is an expandable member.

Assignments (11)