Patent ID: 7879108

Claim:
An implantable prosthesis for repairing a tissue or muscle wall defect, the implantable prosthesis comprising: a repair fabric that is susceptible to erosion into and the formation of adhesions with tissue and organs, the repair fabric including first and second surfaces and a fabric edge extending from the first surface to the second surface, the first surface adapted to face the tissue or muscle wall defect and the second surface adapted to face away from the defect; and an edge barrier that inhibits erosion into tissue and organs and inhibits the formation of adhesions with tissue and organs, the edge barrier being disposed on a portion of the first and second surfaces adjacent the fabric edge and extending from the first surface to the second surface over the fabric edge, the edge barrier having an inner surface and an outer surface, the inner surface being located between the outer surface and the fabric edge, the inner surface being spaced from the fabric edge in a direction normal to the fabric edge to form a gap between the inner surface of the edge barrier and the fabric edge to inhibit erosion of the tissue and organs by the fabric edge and to inhibit the formation of adhesions to the fabric edge, the edge barrier including first and second barrier layers, the first barrier layer being disposed on the portion of the first surface of the repair fabric and extending beyond the fabric edge, the second barrier layer being disposed on the portion of the second surface of the repair fabric and extending beyond the fabric edge to overlie the first barrier layer, portions of the first and second barrier layers extending beyond the fabric edge being attached directly to each other to isolate the fabric edge and form the inner surface of the edge barrier spaced from the fabric edge.