Patent ID: 6899728

Claim:
A method for forming a non-expandable reinforced graft including the steps of a. providing a sheet of flexible graft material having opposed side edges; b. attaching filamentary reinforcement material to the sheet, wherein the filamentary reinforcement material is provided in a pattern including regions: (1) extending at least substantially transversely towards a first one of the side edges of the sheet, (2) changing direction by approximately 180°, and (3) extending at least substantially transversely towards the second one of the side edges of the sheet, wherein: i. the pattern is repeated to run at least substantially longitudinally with respect to the side edges of the sheet; and ii. the filamentary reinforcement material is attached into substantially fixed positions on the sheet, whereby the reinforcement material is not displaceable relative to the sheet; c. forming the sheet into an at least substantially tubular shape by bringing together the side edges to form a longitudinal seam.