Patent ID: 8765039

Claim:
A method for texturizing an implantable tube for implantation in a body, the tube being an extruded ePTFE tube, the tube having a first inner surface and a second outer surface, the tube having a thickness dimension between the first inner surface and the second outer surface, the second outer surface being textured to promote body tissue bio-integration into the second surface, the second outer surface being textured by the process comprising the steps of: providing a mandrel sized to receive the inner surface of the tube, the mandrel having a plurality of holes to couple the inner surface of the tube to a vacuum space, releasably affixing the first inner surface to the mandrel by application of a vacuum to the vacuum space, contacting an active rotary gouge to the second outer surface to remove material from the tube, at least including gouging material in the thickness dimension from the second surface toward the first surface, thereby separating the gouged material from the tube, thereby forming an irregularly configured second outer surface, the outer surface having resultant irregular voids, removing the gouged material from the textured second surface, moving the rotary gouge and mandrel relative to one another, and discontinuing application of the vacuum and removing the texturized tube from the mandrel.