Patent ID: 11911272
Assignee: W.L. GORE & ASSOCIATES GMBH
Field: Medical technology (Instruments)
Classification: CPC A | IPC A

Claim 27:
28. An apparatus comprising:
a plurality of filaments defining an absorbable support structure configured to support a tissue and degrade within a defined time period, the absorbable support structure including central portion defining a waist, wherein the support structure includes a proximal end that is an integral portion of a proximal expanded diameter portion such that the proximal end of the support structure does not protrude beyond a proximal end of the proximal expanded diameter portion;
an intermediate hub surrounding the waist defined by the central portions of the plurality of filaments; and
a membrane arranged about an entirety of the absorbable structure including an entirety of at least one of a proximal end and a distal end, the membrane defining a first layer and a second layer, the absorbable structure being enclosed between layers of the membrane, the membrane configured to contain fragments of the absorbable structure in response to a fracture or degradation of at least a portion of the absorbable structure.