Intraluminal stent graft

Abstract

A method of making an tubular intraluminal graft in the form of a tubular diametrically adjustable stent having a tubular covering of porous expanded polytetrafluoroethylene which is less than 0.10 mm thick. The covering may be on the exterior surface of the stent, or on the interior surface of the stent, or both. The covering may be affixed to the stent by an adhesive which is preferably fluorinated ethylene propylene.

The invention claimed is: 
     
         1 . An intraluminal stent graft comprising:
 a) a stent having a wall with at least one opening, and an exterior surface and a luminal surface;   b) a tubular covering of porous expanded polytetrafluoroethylene film, said covering being provided on at least one surface of the stent and covering at least a portion of the at least one opening;   c) wherein said covering includes a non-porous layer of a thermoplastic polymer.   
     
     
         2 . An intraluminal stent graft according to  claim 1  wherein the thermoplastic polymer comprises a thermoplastic fluoropolymer. 
     
     
         3 . An intraluminal stent graft according to  claim 2  wherein the thermoplastic fluoropolymer comprises fluorinated ethylene propylene. 
     
     
         4 . An intraluminal stent graft according to  claim 1  wherein the stent comprises a self expanding stent. 
     
     
         5 . An intraluminal stent graft according to  claim 4  wherein the self expanding stent comprises nitinol. 
     
     
         6 . An intraluminal stent graft according to  claim 1  wherein the tubular stent comprises a balloon expandable stent. 
     
     
         7 . An intraluminal stent graft according to  claim 1  wherein the covering is provided on the luminal surface of the stent. 
     
     
         8 . An intraluminal stent graft according to  claim 1  wherein the covering is provided on the exterior surface of the stent. 
     
     
         9 . An intraluminal stent graft according to  claim 1  wherein the covering is provided on the exterior and luminal surfaces of the stent. 
     
     
         10 . An intraluminal stent graft comprising:
 a) a stent having a wall with at least one opening, and an exterior surface and a luminal surface;   b) a covering of porous expanded polytetrafluoroethylene film, said covering being provided on at least one surface of the stent and covering at least a portion of the at least one opening;   c) wherein said film includes a non-porous layer of a thermoplastic polymer.   
     
     
         11 . An intraluminal stent graft according to  claim 10  wherein the thermoplastic polymer comprises a thermoplastic fluoropolymer. 
     
     
         12 . An intraluminal stent graft according to  claim 11  wherein the thermoplastic fluoropolymer comprises fluorinated ethylene propylene. 
     
     
         13 . An intraluminal stent graft according to  claim 10  wherein the tubular stent comprises a self expanding stent. 
     
     
         14 . An intraluminal stent graft according to  claim 13  wherein the self expanding stent comprises nitinol. 
     
     
         15 . An intraluminal stent graft according to  claim 10  wherein the tubular stent comprises a balloon expandable stent. 
     
     
         16 . An intraluminal stent graft according to  claim 10  wherein the covering is provided on the luminal surface of the stent. 
     
     
         17 . An intraluminal stent graft according to  claim 10  wherein the covering is provided on the exterior surface of the stent. 
     
     
         18 . An intraluminal stent graft according to  claim 10  wherein the covering is provided on the exterior and luminal surfaces of the stent.