Implantable product with improved aqueous interface characteristics and method for making and using same

Abstract

An implantable medical device including a porous membrane that is treated with a hydrophilic substance to obtain rapid optimum visualization using technology for viewing inside of a mammalian body. These technologies include ultrasound echocardiography and video imaging such as that used during laparoscopic procedures.

The invention claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of visualizing a medical device including a stent frame and a membrane arranged thereon, the membrane including a porous membrane of expanded polytetrafluoroethylene and at least one dried, covalently cross-linked, hydrophilic polymeric material on at least one surface of the porous membrane of expanded polytetrafluoroethylene, the method comprising:
 (a) delivering the medical device to a treatment site;   (b) exposing the medical device to an aqueous medium in vivo at the treatment site to rapidly displace air within the porous membrane with the aqueous solution of DI water;   (c) visualizing the medical device in the presence of the aqueous medium, wherein prior to exposure to the aqueous medium, the membrane completely obscures the frame mounted thereon; and   (d) observing the stent frame and at least a portion of said opaque porous expanded polytetrafluoroethylene material.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the ability to visualize the stent frame occurs within five to ten seconds of exposing the medical device to the aqueous medium. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein visualizing the medical device includes visualizing the medical device with one of x-ray imaging, fluoroscopy, ultrasound, and video imaging. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein visualizing the medical device includes visualizing the medical device with ultrasonic imaging in the presence of the aqueous medium.