US3938524A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Compliant mandrel and mandrel assembly for growing graft tubes
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1974-09-16
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Granted: 1976-02-17
•
Expires: 1994-09-16
Abstract
Abstract A mandrel of sponge rubber or gel has a tension element for withdrawing the mandrel from a graft tube grown from living tissue. In a first embodiment the tension element comprises a strip of cloth embedded in a sponge rubber mandrel. In a second embodiment the tension element comprises a rubber tube containing the sponge rubber and in a third embodiment the tension element comprises a rubber tube containing a gel. The mandrel assembly includes cloth reinforcing tubes surrounding the mandrel.
Inventors
- 👤 Charles Howard Sparks, deceased
- 👤 executrix by Margaret J. Sparks
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 01:48
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61F; A61F2/00; A61F2/02; A61F2/04; A61F2/06; A61F2/062; A61L; A61L27/00; A61L27/14; A61L27/18
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim
97 words
A mandrel assembly for growing a graft tube with living tissue, comprising an elongated compliant mass of material which may not have sufficient tensile strength for withdrawing the mandrel from said mandrel assembly after said graft tube has been grown, and a compliant tension element extending throughout the length of the mandrel and forming an integral part thereof for pulling the mandrel out of said mandrel assembly after said graft tube has been grown, an outer fabric tube on said mandrel, and an inner layer of porous material holding said fabric tube spaced away from said mandrel.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
97 words
A mandrel assembly for growing a graft tube with living tissue, comprising an elongated compliant mass of material which may not have sufficient tensile strength for withdrawing the mandrel from said mandrel assembly after said graft tube has been grown, and a compliant tension element extending throughout the length of the mandrel and forming an integral part thereof for pulling the mandrel out of said mandrel assembly after said graft tube has been grown, an outer fabric tube on said mandrel, and an inner layer of porous material holding said fabric tube spaced away from said mandrel.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
19 words
A mandrel assembly as defined in claim 1, said tension element being disposed within said compliant mass of material.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
16 words
A mandrel assembly as defined in claim 2, said compliant mass of material comprising sponge rubber.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
16 words
A mandrel assembly as defined in claim 2, said tension element comprising a strip of cloth.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
21 words
A mandrel assembly as defined in claim 1, said tension element comprising a rubber tube containing said compliant mass of material.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
16 words
A mandrel assembly as defined in claim 5, said compliant mass of material comprising sponge rubber.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
21 words
The invention of claim 1, said inner layer of porous material comprising an inner fabric tube within said outer fabric tube.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
106 words
A mandrel for use in a mandrel assembly for growing a graft tube with living tissue, comprising an elongated compliant mass of material which may not have sufficient tensile strength for withdrawing the mandrel from said mandrel assembly after said graft tube has been grown, and a compliant tension element extending throughout the length of the mandrel and forming an integral part thereof for pulling the mandrel out of said mandrel assembly after said graft tube has been grown, said tension element comprising a strip of cloth disposed within said compliant mass of material, said strip of cloth comprising a longitudinally slit tube of said cloth.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
106 words
A mandrel for use in a mandrel assembly for growing a graft tube with living tissue, comprising an elongated compliant mass of material which may not have sufficient tensile strength for withdrawing the mandrel from said mandrel assembly after said graft tube has been grown, and a compliant tension element extending throughout the length of the mandrel and forming an integral part thereof for pulling the mandrel out of said mandrel assembly after said graft tube has been grown, said tension element comprising a strip of cloth disposed within said compliant mass of material, said strip of cloth comprising a longitudinally slit tube of said cloth.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
15 words
A mandrel as defined in claim 8, said slit cloth tube comprising a knitted material.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
100 words
A mandrel for use in a mandrel assembly for growing a graft tube with living tissue, comprising an elongated compliant mass of material which may not have sufficient tensile strength for withdrawing the mandrel from said mandrel assembly after said graft tube has been grown, and a compliant tension element extending throughout the length of the mandrel and forming an integral part thereof for pulling the mandrel out of said mandrel assembly after said graft tube has been grown, said tension element comprising a rubber tube containing said compliant mass of material, said compliant mass of material comprising a gel.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
100 words
A mandrel for use in a mandrel assembly for growing a graft tube with living tissue, comprising an elongated compliant mass of material which may not have sufficient tensile strength for withdrawing the mandrel from said mandrel assembly after said graft tube has been grown, and a compliant tension element extending throughout the length of the mandrel and forming an integral part thereof for pulling the mandrel out of said mandrel assembly after said graft tube has been grown, said tension element comprising a rubber tube containing said compliant mass of material, said compliant mass of material comprising a gel.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
66 words
A mandrel assembly for growing a graft tube with living tissue, comprising a sponge rubber mandrel, an inner cloth tube on said mandrel impregnated with silicone rubber which is vulcanized in the cloth leaving the cloth porous, and an outer cloth tube surrounding said inner tube and mandrel, said outer tube being impregnated with silicone rubber which is vulcanized in the cloth leaving the cloth porous.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
66 words
A mandrel assembly for growing a graft tube with living tissue, comprising a sponge rubber mandrel, an inner cloth tube on said mandrel impregnated with silicone rubber which is vulcanized in the cloth leaving the cloth porous, and an outer cloth tube surrounding said inner tube and mandrel, said outer tube being impregnated with silicone rubber which is vulcanized in the cloth leaving the cloth porous.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3284562A
Cited
US3847156A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1979-02-16 | 1979-08-18 | 1980-02-17 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1983-02-16 | 1983-08-18 | 1984-02-17 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1987-02-16 | 1987-08-18 | 1988-02-17 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |