Electrospun ptfe coated stent and method of use

Abstract

A stent or other prosthesis may be formed by coating a single continuous wire scaffold with a polymer coating. The polymer coating may consist of layers of electrospun polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE). Electrospun PTFE of certain porosities may permit endothelial cell growth within the prosthesis.

1 . A vascular prosthesis, comprising:
 a tubular body comprising a first layer of electrospun polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE);   an impermeable layer, configured to be impermeable to tissue ingrowth through the impermeable layer; and   a second layer of electrospun PTFE.   
     
     
         2 . The vascular prosthesis of  claim 1 , wherein the impermeable layer comprises electrospun PTFE. 
     
     
         3 . The vascular prosthesis of  claim 1 , wherein the impermeable layer is disposed between the first and second layers of electrospun PTFE. 
     
     
         4 . The vascular prosthesis of  claim 3 , wherein the impermeable layer is in direct contact with at least one of the first and second layers of electrospun PTFE. 
     
     
         5 . The vascular prosthesis of  claim 1 , wherein the impermeable layer comprises a tie layer disposed between at least two layers. 
     
     
         6 . The vascular prosthesis of  claim 5 , wherein:
 the first layer of electrospun PTFE defines an outermost surface of the tubular body;   the second layer of electrospun PTFE defines an innermost surface of the tubular body; and   the impermeable layer is disposed between the first and second layers of electrospun PTFE.   
     
     
         7 . The vascular prosthesis of  claim 6 , wherein the impermeable layer comprises a thermoplastic material. 
     
     
         8 . The vascular prosthesis of  claim 6 , wherein the impermeable layer comprises fluorinated ethylene propylene (FEP). 
     
     
         9 . The vascular prosthesis of  claim 8 , wherein the FEP is bonded to the first and second layers of electrospun PTFE by heating and compression. 
     
     
         10 . The vascular prosthesis of  claim 6 , wherein at least one of the first and second layers of electrospun PTFE has an average pore size configured to permit cellular growth into the layer of electrospun PFTE. 
     
     
         11 . The vascular prosthesis of  claim 10 , wherein at least one of the first and second layers of electrospun PTFE has an average pore size between about 2 microns and about 8 microns. 
     
     
         12 . The vascular prosthesis of  claim 6 , wherein the material comprising the impermeable layer has greater tensile strength than at least one of the first and second layers of electrospun PTFE. 
     
     
         13 . The vascular prosthesis of  claim 1 , wherein all the PTFE in the vascular prosthesis comprises electrospun PTFE. 
     
     
         14 . The vascular prosthesis of  claim 1 , wherein all the PTFE in the vascular prosthesis comprises deposited PTFE fibers. 
     
     
         15 . The vascular prosthesis of  claim 1 , further comprising a scaffolding structure coupled to the tubular body. 
     
     
         16 . The vascular prosthesis of  claim 15 , wherein the scaffolding structure is disposed between adjacent layers of the tubular body. 
     
     
         17 . A vascular prosthesis, comprising:
 a tubular body comprising two or more layers of material, wherein at least one layer of the tubular body comprises electrospun polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE); and   wherein all the PTFE in the vascular prosthesis comprises electrospun PTFE.   
     
     
         18 . The vascular prosthesis of  claim 17 , wherein at least one layer of the tubular body is impermeable to tissue ingrowth through the impermeable layer. 
     
     
         19 . The vascular prosthesis of  claim 17 , wherein at least one layer of electrospun PTFE has an average pore size configured to permit cellular growth into the layer of electrospun PTFE. 
     
     
         20 . The vascular prosthesis of  claim 17 , wherein at least one layer of electrospun PTFE has an average pore size between about 2 microns and about 8 microns. 
     
     
         21 . The vascular prosthesis of  claim 17 , further comprising a scaffolding structure coupled to the tubular body. 
     
     
         22 . The vascular prosthesis of  claim 17 , wherein the tubular body comprises:
 a first layer of electrospun PTFE;   a second layer of electrospun PTFE; and   an impermeable layer disposed between the first and second layers of electrospun PTFE.