US6663667B2 — Towel graft means for enhancing tissue ingrowth i…

Claim 1

Independent Claim 75 words

A vascular graft adapted for placement in a primary blood vessel, comprising: a woven tubular structure defining an outer surface characterized by a plurality of thread portions extending from and lying along the exterior of the woven tubular structure, the outer surface being sized to contact and support the blood vessel, wherein the thread portions are selected to increase tissue ingrowth, and further wherein the plurality of thread portions define first and second texture portions.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 75 words

A vascular graft adapted for placement in a primary blood vessel, comprising: a woven tubular structure defining an outer surface characterized by a plurality of thread portions extending from and lying along the exterior of the woven tubular structure, the outer surface being sized to contact and support the blood vessel, wherein the thread portions are selected to increase tissue ingrowth, and further wherein the plurality of thread portions define first and second texture portions.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 31 words

The vascular graft as in claim 1 , wherein the thread portions are hoop-like protrusions formed from a filament from at least about 1 cm to about 22 cm in length.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 39 words

The vascular graft as in claim 1 , wherein the thread portions are formed from a fiber that is woven into the tubular structure with a picks per inch range of from at least about 138 to about 222.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 38 words

The vascular graft as in claim 1 , wherein the configuration of said tubular structure is selected from the group consisting of a straight tube, an aorto-uniliac conversion graft, a bifurcated endoluminal prosthesis, and a thoracic graft device.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 35 words

The vascular graft as in claim 1 , wherein the thread portions are selected from the group consisting of vertical thread portions, horizontal thread portions, angled thread portions, loose thread portions and taut thread portions.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 137 words

A vascular graft adapted for placement in a primary blood vessel, comprising: a woven tubular structure defining an outer surface characterized by a first and a second surface texture and being sized to contact and support the blood vessel, the woven tubular structure having a body portion and first and second cuffs located at first and second ends of the body portion, the cuffs configured to engage the blood vessel and promote tissue ingrowth, and further wherein: the first surface texture comprises a plurality of thread portions extending generally outwardly from the first and second cuffs, in the form of outwardly extending hoops having a first height, and the second surface texture comprises a plurality of thread portions extending generally outwardly from the body portion in the form of outwardly extending hoops having a second, different height.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 137 words

A vascular graft adapted for placement in a primary blood vessel, comprising: a woven tubular structure defining an outer surface characterized by a first and a second surface texture and being sized to contact and support the blood vessel, the woven tubular structure having a body portion and first and second cuffs located at first and second ends of the body portion, the cuffs configured to engage the blood vessel and promote tissue ingrowth, and further wherein: the first surface texture comprises a plurality of thread portions extending generally outwardly from the first and second cuffs, in the form of outwardly extending hoops having a first height, and the second surface texture comprises a plurality of thread portions extending generally outwardly from the body portion in the form of outwardly extending hoops having a second, different height.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 29 words

The vascular graft as in claim 6 , wherein the thread portions are formed from a filament from at least about 1 cm to about 22 cm in length.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 24 words

The vascular graft as in claim 6 , wherein the thread portions are formed from a fiber that is woven in the tubular structure.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 21 words

The vascular graft as in claim 6 , wherein the hoops of the first surface texture form a dense pile configuration.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 19 words

The vascular graft as in claim 6 , wherein the hoops of the second surface texture form elongated strands.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 28 words

The vascular graft as in claim 6 , wherein the cuff extends from at least about 1 cm to about 5 cm along the length of the graft.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 38 words

The vascular graft as in claim 6 , wherein the configuration of said tubular structure is selected from the group consisting of a straight tube, an aorto-uniliac conversion graft, a bifurcated endoluminal prosthesis, and a thoracic graft device.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 109 words

A vascular graft adapted for placement in a primary blood vessel, comprising: an elongated woven tubular structure having a first and a second end and an outer surface which is circumferentially reinforced along its length by a plurality of separate, spaced-apart wires, each of which has a generally sinusoidal shape, wherein the outer surface of the graft is characterized by a plurality of differently shaped thread portions extending from the outer surface of the woven tubular structure, the outer surface being sized to contact and support the blood vessel and characterized by a plurality of texture portions, and further wherein the thread portions are configured to increase tissue ingrowth.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 109 words

A vascular graft adapted for placement in a primary blood vessel, comprising: an elongated woven tubular structure having a first and a second end and an outer surface which is circumferentially reinforced along its length by a plurality of separate, spaced-apart wires, each of which has a generally sinusoidal shape, wherein the outer surface of the graft is characterized by a plurality of differently shaped thread portions extending from the outer surface of the woven tubular structure, the outer surface being sized to contact and support the blood vessel and characterized by a plurality of texture portions, and further wherein the thread portions are configured to increase tissue ingrowth.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 20 words

The vascular graft as in claim 13 , the fibers are formed from a filament woven into the tubular structure.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 45 words

The vascular graft as in claim 13 , wherein the plurality of thread portions define first and second texture portions, the first texture portion being characterized by a plurality of outwardly extending loop portions and located circumferentially around each end of the woven tubular structure.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 35 words

The vascular graft as in claim 13 , wherein the thread portions are selected from the group consisting of vertical thread portions, horizontal thread portions, angled thread portions, loose thread portions and taut thread portions.

Claim 20

Independent Claim 78 words

A method of promoting tissue ingrowth into a tubular graft in a primary blood vessel, comprising: providing a woven tubular graft having a body portion and an extension portion, wherein the graft has a plurality of fibers extending along the outer surface and forming a texturized outer surface having first and second texture portions; delivering the tubular graft into an implant position; and deploying the tubular graft so that the tubular section contacts and supports the blood vessel.

Claim 21

Independent Claim 78 words

A method of promoting tissue ingrowth into a tubular graft in a primary blood vessel, comprising: providing a woven tubular graft having a body portion and an extension portion, wherein the graft has a plurality of fibers extending along the outer surface and forming a texturized outer surface having first and second texture portions; delivering the tubular graft into an implant position; and deploying the tubular graft so that the tubular section contacts and supports the blood vessel.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 20 words

The method as in claim 17 , wherein the fibers extend into, and are incorporated with, the woven tubular graft.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 22 words

The method as in claim 17 , wherein the fibers are formed from a filament that is woven into the tubular structure.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 37 words

The method as in claim 17 , wherein the extension portion is characterized by a first texture and the body portion is characterized by a second, different texture extending circumferentially around a central portion of the graft.

Claim 25

Dependent Claim 22 words

The method as in claim 20 , wherein the first texture is in the form of a plurality of looped thread portions.

Claim 26

Dependent Claim 30 words

The method as in claim 20 , wherein the second texture comprises a plurality of threads extending along the outer surface and lying parallel to a length of the graft.

Claim 27

Dependent Claim 30 words

The method as in claim 20 , wherein the second texture comprises a plurality of threads extending along the outer surface and lying perpendicular to a length of the graft.

Claim 28

Independent Claim 138 words

A method of promoting tissue ingrowth into a tubular graft in a primary blood vessel, comprising: providing an elongated tubular structure having first and second ends and an outer surface sized to contact and support the blood vessel, the tubular structure being circumferentially reinforced along its length by a plurality of separate, spaced-apart wires, each of which has a generally sinusoidal shape, wherein the outer surface of the graft is characterized by a plurality of differently shaped thread portions defining loop members extending from and lying along the outer surface of the woven tubular structure and defining first and second texture portions, and further wherein the thread portions are configured to increase tissue ingrowth; delivering the tubular graft into an implant position; and deploying the tubular graft so that the tubular section contacts and supports the blood vessel.

Claim 29

Independent Claim 138 words

A method of promoting tissue ingrowth into a tubular graft in a primary blood vessel, comprising: providing an elongated tubular structure having first and second ends and an outer surface sized to contact and support the blood vessel, the tubular structure being circumferentially reinforced along its length by a plurality of separate, spaced-apart wires, each of which has a generally sinusoidal shape, wherein the outer surface of the graft is characterized by a plurality of differently shaped thread portions defining loop members extending from and lying along the outer surface of the woven tubular structure and defining first and second texture portions, and further wherein the thread portions are configured to increase tissue ingrowth; delivering the tubular graft into an implant position; and deploying the tubular graft so that the tubular section contacts and supports the blood vessel.

Claim 30

Dependent Claim 26 words

The method of promoting tissue ingrowth as in claim 24 , wherein the fibers are formed from a filament that is woven into the tubular structure.

Claim 31

Dependent Claim 41 words

The method of promoting tissue ingrowth as in claim 24 , wherein the configuration of said tubular structure is selected from the group consisting of a straight tube, an aorto-uniliac conversion graft, a bifurcated endoluminal prosthesis, and a thoracic graft device.

Claim 32

Dependent Claim 86 words

A vascular graft adapted for placement in a primary blood vessel, comprising: a woven tubular structure defining an outer surface characterized by a plurality of thread portions extending from and lying along the exterior of the woven tubular structure, the outer surface being sized to contact and support the blood vessel, wherein the thread portions are hoop-like protrusions formed from a filament from at least about 1 cm to about 22 cm in length, and further wherein the thread portions are selected to increase tissue ingrowth.

Claim 33

Dependent Claim 86 words

A vascular graft adapted for placement in a primary blood vessel, comprising: a woven tubular structure defining an outer surface characterized by a plurality of thread portions extending from and lying along the exterior of the woven tubular structure, the outer surface being sized to contact and support the blood vessel, wherein the thread portions are hoop-like protrusions formed from a filament from at least about 1 cm to about 22 cm in length, and further wherein the thread portions are selected to increase tissue ingrowth.

Claim 34

Dependent Claim 94 words

A vascular graft adapted for placement in a primary blood vessel, comprising: a woven tubular structure defining an outer surface characterized by a plurality of thread portions extending from and lying along the exterior of the woven tubular structure, the outer surface being sized to contact and support the blood vessel, wherein the thread portions are selected to increase tissue ingrowth, and further wherein the thread portions are formed from a fiber that is woven into the tubular structure with a picks per inch range of from at least about 138 to about 222.

Claim 35

Dependent Claim 94 words

A vascular graft adapted for placement in a primary blood vessel, comprising: a woven tubular structure defining an outer surface characterized by a plurality of thread portions extending from and lying along the exterior of the woven tubular structure, the outer surface being sized to contact and support the blood vessel, wherein the thread portions are selected to increase tissue ingrowth, and further wherein the thread portions are formed from a fiber that is woven into the tubular structure with a picks per inch range of from at least about 138 to about 222.

Claim 36

Dependent Claim 100 words

A vascular graft adapted for placement in a primary blood vessel, comprising: a woven tubular structure defining an outer surface characterized by a plurality of thread portions extending from and lying along the exterior of the woven tubular structure, the outer surface being sized to contact and support the blood vessel, wherein the thread portions are selected to increase tissue ingrowth, and further wherein the plurality of thread portions define first and second texture portions, the first texture portion being characterized by a plurality of outwardly extending loop portions and located circumferentially around each end of the woven tubular structure.

Claim 37

Dependent Claim 100 words

A vascular graft adapted for placement in a primary blood vessel, comprising: a woven tubular structure defining an outer surface characterized by a plurality of thread portions extending from and lying along the exterior of the woven tubular structure, the outer surface being sized to contact and support the blood vessel, wherein the thread portions are selected to increase tissue ingrowth, and further wherein the plurality of thread portions define first and second texture portions, the first texture portion being characterized by a plurality of outwardly extending loop portions and located circumferentially around each end of the woven tubular structure.

Claim 38

Dependent Claim 86 words

A woven tubular structure defining an outer surface characterized by a plurality of floaters extending from and lying along the exterior of the woven tubular structure, the outer surface being sized to contact and support the blood vessel, wherein each floater extends from the outer surface of the tubular structure at a first point and enters the outer surface of the tubular structure at a second point such that the length of each floater is approximately equal to the distance between the first and second points.

Claim 39

Dependent Claim 86 words

A woven tubular structure defining an outer surface characterized by a plurality of floaters extending from and lying along the exterior of the woven tubular structure, the outer surface being sized to contact and support the blood vessel, wherein each floater extends from the outer surface of the tubular structure at a first point and enters the outer surface of the tubular structure at a second point such that the length of each floater is approximately equal to the distance between the first and second points.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	2006-12-15	2007-06-16	2007-12-16	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	2010-12-15	2011-06-16	2011-12-16	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2014-12-15	2015-06-16	2015-12-16	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Towel graft means for enhancing tissue ingrowth in vascular grafts

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