Patent ID: 7309461
Filing Date: 2007-12-18
Classification: A61F,B29C,B29K,B29L

Abstract:
1. A method of crimping a varied diameter graft comprising: (a) providing a flat-woven tubular graft having an enlarged woven bulbous portion disposed between flat-woven tubular ends, wherein the flat-woven diameter of said woven bulbous portion is greater than the flat-woven diameters of said tubular ends; (b) providing a mandrel shaped and sized to said woven bulbous portion and having a curved crimping surface; (c) positioning said curved crimping surface within said woven bulbous portion so that said woven bulbous portion contours to said curved crimping surface; (d) providing a horn having a crimped surface mateable to said crimped surface of said mandrel; (e) aligning said crimping surface of said horn over said woven bulbous portion; (f) securing said woven bulbous portion between said crimping surface of said horn and said crimping surface of said mandrel; (g) causing said woven bulbous portion to heat by ultrasonic action from said horn to heat set crimps thereat; and (h) rotating said graft around said mandrel and repeating steps (e) through (g) until the graft is circumferentially crimped.