Patent ID: 6039755
Filing Date: 2000-03-21
Classification: A61F,A61L,B29C,B29K,B32B

Abstract:
A continuous tubular structure comprising an expanded polytetrafluoroethylene material having a predetermined wall thickness and a microstructure characterized by a plurality of nodes interconnected by fibrils, the fibrils having an orientation substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis of the polytetrafluoroethylene tubular material throughout the wall thickness of the tubular structure and the nodes having a longitudinal axis substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the polytetrafluoroethylene material, the polytetrafluoroethylene material of the tubular structure being capable of undergoing radial deformation from an original unexpanded diameter of the tubular structure to a larger diameter of the tubular structure by application of a positive pressure applied through the lumen of the tubular structure and radially outward therefrom which causes a plurality of the nodes in the microstructure to undergo elongation along the longitudinal axis of the nodes, while substantially retaining an average internodal distance throughout the wall thickness of the radially deformed tubular structure.