Patent ID: 6554855
Filing Date: 2003-04-29
Classification: A61F,D04B,D10B

Abstract:
An implantable tubular prosthesis capable of longitudinal expansion from a quiescent state to an elongated state comprising:a radially contractible and longitudinally expandable tubular stent having a quiescent diameter and quiescent length capable of longitudinal expansion to the elongated state having an elongated length and a contracted diameter, wherein the elongated length is greater than the quiescent length and the contracted diameter is smaller than the quiescent diameter, and further wherein said stent is capable of resiliently returning from the elongated state to the quiescent state; and a tubular knitted tubular graft circumferentially disposed and securably attached to said stent in the quiescent state, said graft having a single layer of yarns to define a single layered wall, said yarns being interlaced into stitches in a knit pattern capable of resilient longitudinal elongation and resilient radial contraction of said graft to the elongated state and having about at least 400 stitches per square centimeter and further having no more than about 1,000 stitches per square centimeter to provide compliancy in the quiescent state; wherein said knit pattern is a warp knitted pattern of yarns forming a textile layer having an interior surface and an exterior surface, wherein interior yarns comprise the interior surface and form loops in the longitudinal direction of said prosthesis, and exterior yarns comprise the exterior surface and are diagonally shifted over two or more of the interior yarns in an alternating pattern along a width of said prosthesis before engaging an interior yarn.