Importance

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Abstract

The process described herein involves the production of artificial blood vessels starting with a tue knit or woven from polmeric fibers such as polyester, for example, polyethyleneterephthalate, which has been surface cleaned and then coated on the exterior surface of the tube with one or more layers as defined more fully hereinafter of polysiloxane, polyurethane or a block copolymer of polyurethane and polysiloxane to give the desired amount of permeability. A preferred block copolymer is made an hydroxyalkyl-terminated polysiloxane and a polyurethane. The coating material is preferably applied by pressurized application to give an impermeable or almost impermeable layer on the outside of the tube and then the coated tube is solvent treated to remove enough of the coating to give the desired amount of permeability, preferably a porosity that is measured to permit 1-25, preferably 1-5 milliliters or cubic centimeters of water to flow through 1 square centimeter of surface area of the tube with water under a pressure of 120 mm. of mercury. The solvent treatment not only reduces the permeability but also removes polymeric coating material from the inside of the tube thereby preferably leaving exposed polymeric fibers on the inside of the tube and coating material in the interstices and on the outside of the tube.

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First Claim