Importance

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Abstract

A tubular prosthesis having a composite structure comprising (i) tubular polytetrafluoroethylene having a microfibrous structure comprising small nodes interconnected with fibrils and (ii) materials which can be absorbed by a living body wherein (a) said polytetrafluoroethylene has a greater average fibril length on the outer surface than on the inner surface, and the fibrous structure of said polytetrafluoroethylene varies continuously across the thickness of the tube wall wherein said inner surface has said fibrous structure being predominantly oriented along the axial direction and said outer surface has said fibrous structure being predominantly oriented along the concentric direction; and (b) said materials which can be absorbed by a living body are collagen, at least one of albumin and chitosan, and heparin, and are distributed in such a manner that collagen is present in the portion of the tube wall which is closest to the outer surface thereof while at least one of albumin and chitosan is present in the portion of the tube wall which is closest to the inner surface thereof, and heparin is present in the inner surface of the tube wall.

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First Claim