Patent ID: 6685625
Filing Date: 2004-02-03
Classification: A61B,A61F,A61L,Y10S

Abstract:
A method for making a sheath having a curved contour, comprising:providing a sheet of a biological tissue material, the sheet having ends spaced apart from each other by elongated side edges; forming a generally tubular apparatus from the sheet of the biological tissue material, the forming comprising securing the side edges of the sheet of biological material relative to each other; urging an elongated member having a curved exterior portion into the tubular apparatus, such that the relative spacing between the side edges of the sheet of biological material remains substantially unchanged; placing the tubular apparatus and elongated member in a fixation solution so that at least part of the tubular apparatus is fixed to a configuration defined by the exterior portion of the elongated member engaged thereby; separating the tubular apparatus from the elongated member to provide an elongated sheath of substantially biocompatible material having a curved contour corresponding to the curved exterior portion of the elongated member; and removing a strip of tissue adjacent and coextensive at least one of the side edges of the sheet to form an elongated sheath having a curved contour that extends arcuately between opposite ends thereof and having a generally C-shaped cross section.