Intraluminal Stent Graft
A method of making an tubular intraluminal graft in the form of a tubular diametrically adjustable stent having a tubular covering of porous expanded PTFE which is less than 0.10 mm thick. The covering may be on the exterior surface of the stent, or on the interior surface of the stent, or both. The covering may be affixed to the stent by an adhesive which is preferably fluorinated ethylene propylene.
1 . A method of making an intraluminal graft comprising:
a) selecting at least one diametrically adjustable stent having an exterior surface, a luminal surface and a wall, said diametrically adjustable stent having a collapsed diameter and an enlarged diameter wherein said enlarged diameter is at least 1.5 times the collapsed diameter;
b) placing a first covering adjacent to the luminal surface of the stent;
c) placing a second covering adjacent to the exterior surface of the stent;
d) affixing the first covering to the second covering through the wall of the stent; and
e) manipulating the covered diametrically adjustable stent about the collapsed diameter.
2 . A method of making an intraluminal graft comprising:
a) selecting at least one diametrically adjustable stent having an exterior surface, a luminal surface and a wall, said diametrically adjustable stent having a collapsed diameter and an enlarged diameter wherein said enlarged diameter is at least 1.5 times the collapsed diameter;
b) affixing a first covering adjacent to the luminal surface of the stent;
c) affixing a second covering adjacent to the exterior surface of the stent; and
d) manipulating the covered diametrically adjustable stent about the collapsed diameter.
3 . A method according to claim 1 , wherein the combined thickness of said second covering is less than about 0.10 mm thick.
4 . A method according to claim 3 , wherein said polymer covering comprises porous expanded PTFE.
5 . A method according to claim 4 , wherein the diametrically adjustable stent has a multiplicity of openings through the wall, and wherein said polymer covering comprises a luminal layer attached to an exterior layer through the openings.
6 . A method according to claim 1 , wherein the step of affixing said polymer covering comprises heating said polymer covering to a temperature adequate to adhere adjacent layers of the polymer covering to each other.
7 . A method according to claim 6 , wherein the heating is to a temperature above the crystalline melt point of said polymer covering.
8 . A method according to claim 7 , wherein said polymer covering comprises porous expanded PTFE, and the heating is to a temperature of at least 360° C.