Importance

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Abstract

A tube of porous PTFE having at least two first and at least two second regions wherein the at least two first regions have a greater density than the at least two second regions. For tubes of porous expanded PTFE having a microstructure of nodes interconnected by fibrils, the at least two first regions have a mean fibril length that is less than that of the at least two second regions. Preferably the regions are arranged in the form of ring-shaped segments of the tube wherein denser segments alternate along the length of the tube with less dense segments. Other arrangements between the different regions are possible; for example, the regions may be oriented in a spiral relationship with each other along the length of the tube. The porous PTFE tubes of the present invention have excellent radial compression resistance without requiring additional exterior reinforcing members due to the presence of the denser regions that are provided with a circumferential orientation. Tubes of this type are anticipated to be useful as vascular grafts and particularly as intraluminal vascular grafts. When provided as an intraluminal graft, the tube may also optionally be manufactured to be circumferentially distensible to a larger diameter up to a maximum diameter beyond which it will not distend during normal use; such a tube can also be made to recoil minimally on the release of the distending force.

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First Claim