US5236447A — Artificial tubular organ

Claim 1

Independent Claim 208 words

An artificial tubular organ comprising: a tubular supporting frame made of a plastic material, and a biocompatible material layer having airtightness arranged on said supporting frame so as to cover at least a portion of a surface of said supporting frame, said supporting frame comprising a plurality of ring portions arranged on an axis, and a plurality of pairs of connecting portions extending between adjacent ring portions so as to connect said ring portions to each other, a first group of alternating pairs of said connecting portions being diametrically arranged on said ring portions, a second group of remaining alternating pairs of said connecting portions being arranged such that a plane containing center lines of a pair of said second group is perpendicular to a plane containing center lines of a pair of said first group of diametrically arranged connecting portions, said biocompatible material layer comprising at least one fabric selected from the group consisting of woven fabrics, nonwoven fabrics, and knitted fabrics, wherein said fabric is partially absorbable in an organism such that the organism forms pores in the fabric, said pores having an average diameter of 300 to 1500 μm and a surface area which occupies at least 20% of a surface area of said fabric.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 208 words

An artificial tubular organ comprising: a tubular supporting frame made of a plastic material, and a biocompatible material layer having airtightness arranged on said supporting frame so as to cover at least a portion of a surface of said supporting frame, said supporting frame comprising a plurality of ring portions arranged on an axis, and a plurality of pairs of connecting portions extending between adjacent ring portions so as to connect said ring portions to each other, a first group of alternating pairs of said connecting portions being diametrically arranged on said ring portions, a second group of remaining alternating pairs of said connecting portions being arranged such that a plane containing center lines of a pair of said second group is perpendicular to a plane containing center lines of a pair of said first group of diametrically arranged connecting portions, said biocompatible material layer comprising at least one fabric selected from the group consisting of woven fabrics, nonwoven fabrics, and knitted fabrics, wherein said fabric is partially absorbable in an organism such that the organism forms pores in the fabric, said pores having an average diameter of 300 to 1500 μm and a surface area which occupies at least 20% of a surface area of said fabric.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 24 words

An artificial tubular organ according to claim 1, wherein said biocompatible material comprises a woven fabric comprising absorbable macromolecular yarns and nonabsorbable macromolecular yarns.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 32 words

An artificial tubular organ according to claim 2, wherein the woven fabric comprises double yarns or twist yarns comprising at least one absorbable macromolecular yarn and at least one nonabsorbable macromolecular yarn.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 39 words

An artificial tubular organ according to claim 2, wherein said nonabsorbable macromolecular yarns comprise fibers made of a material selected from the group consisting of polyesters, polyolefins, polyamide resins, fluoroplastics, chlorine resins, polyurethane resins, cellulose derivatives, and natural fibers.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 16 words

An artificial tubular organ according to claim 2, wherein said nonabsorbable macromolecular yarns comprise polyolefin fibers.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 17 words

An artificial tubular organ according to claim 2, wherein said biocompatible material is coated with a protein.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 24 words

An artificial tubular organ according to claim 6, wherein said protein is selected from the group consisting of collagen, gelatin, fibrinogen, globulin and fibronectin.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 49 words

An artificial tubular organ according to claim 2, wherein said absorbable macromolecular yarns are formed from a material selected from the group consisting of polylactide, polyglycolic acid, polyvinyl alcohol, polyacryl amide, polyvinyl pyrolidone, poly-γ-methyl-glutamade, poly-caprolactone, polydioxanone, ethylene-carbo monoxide copolymers, cellulose derivatives, cellulose copolymers, and vinyl acetate-unsaturated carboxylic acid copolymers.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 23 words

An artificial tubular organ according to claim 1, wherein the fabric is a nonwoven fabric comprising absorbable macromolecular fibers and nonabsorbable macromolecular fibers.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 36 words

An artificial tubular organ according to claim 9, wherein said nonabsorbable macromolecular fibers comprise a material selected from the group consisting of polyesters, polyolefins, polyamide resins, fluoroplastics, chlorine resins, polyurethane resins, cellulose derivatives, and natural fibers.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 16 words

An artificial tubular organ according to claim 10, wherein said nonabsorbable macromolecular fibers comprise polyolefin fibers.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 49 words

An artificial tubular organ according to claim 9, wherein said absorbable macromolecular yarns are formed from a material selected from the group consisting of polylactide, polyglycolic acid, polyvinyl alcohol, polyacryl amide, polyvinyl pyrolidone, poly-γ-methyl-glutamade, poly-caprolactone, polydioxanone, ethylene-carbo monoxide copolymers, cellulose derivatives, cellulose copolymers, and vinyl acetate-unsaturated carboxylic acid copolymers.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 17 words

An artificial tubular organ according to claim 1, wherein said biocompatible material is coated with a protein.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 24 words

An artificial tubular organ according to claim 13, wherein said protein is selected from the group consisting of collagen, gelatin, fibrinogen, globulin and fibronectin.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 29 words

An artificial tubular organ according to claim 1 wherein the surface area occupied by said openings or pores is 40 to 70% of the surface area of said fabric.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 27 words

An artificial tubular organ according to claim 1, wherein the surface area occupied by said pores is 40 to 70% of the surface area of said fabric.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 23 words

An artificial tubular organ according to claim 1, wherein said artificial tubular organ has a Y-shaped form comprising three interconnected tubular supporting frames.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 197 words

An artificial tubular organ comprising: a tubular supporting frame made of a plastic material, and a biocompatible material layer arranged on said supporting frame so as to cover at least one surface of said supporting frame, said supporting frame comprising a plurality of ring portions arranged on an axis, and a plurality of pairs of connecting portions extending between adjacent ring portions so as to connect said ring portions to each other, a first group of alternating pairs of said connecting portions being diametrically arranged on said ring portions, a second group of remaining alternating pairs of said connecting portions being arranged such that a plane containing center lines of a pair of said second group is perpendicular to a plane containing center lines of a pair of said first group of diametrically arranged connecting portions, said biocompatible material comprising at least one fabric selected from the group consisting of woven fabrics, nonwoven fabrics, and knitted fabrics, wherein said fabric is partially absorbable in the organism to form pores therein, said pores having an average diameter of at least 110 μm and a surface area which occupies at least 20% of the surface area of said fabric.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 197 words

An artificial tubular organ comprising: a tubular supporting frame made of a plastic material, and a biocompatible material layer arranged on said supporting frame so as to cover at least one surface of said supporting frame, said supporting frame comprising a plurality of ring portions arranged on an axis, and a plurality of pairs of connecting portions extending between adjacent ring portions so as to connect said ring portions to each other, a first group of alternating pairs of said connecting portions being diametrically arranged on said ring portions, a second group of remaining alternating pairs of said connecting portions being arranged such that a plane containing center lines of a pair of said second group is perpendicular to a plane containing center lines of a pair of said first group of diametrically arranged connecting portions, said biocompatible material comprising at least one fabric selected from the group consisting of woven fabrics, nonwoven fabrics, and knitted fabrics, wherein said fabric is partially absorbable in the organism to form pores therein, said pores having an average diameter of at least 110 μm and a surface area which occupies at least 20% of the surface area of said fabric.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 32 words

An artificial tubular organ according to claim 18, wherein said biocompatible material layer is coated with a protein that is selected from the group consisting of collagen, gelatin, fibrinogen, globulin and fibronectin.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 27 words

An artificial tubular organ according to claim 18, wherein the surface area occupied by said pores is 40 to 70% of the surface area of said fabric.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 23 words

An artificial tubular organ according to claim 18, wherein said artificial tubular organ has a Y-shaped form comprising three interconnected tubular supporting frames.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 22 words

An artificial tubular organ according to claim 18, wherein said openings or pores have an average diameter of 300 to 1500 μm.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1996-08-16	1997-02-15	1997-08-17	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	2000-08-16	2001-02-15	2001-08-17	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2004-08-16	2005-02-15	2005-08-17	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Artificial tubular organ

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