Composite lumen with reinforcing textile and matrix

Abstract

A composite hollow lumen and a method for producing the lumen are provided. The lumen includes a tubular textile formed of yarns having a first tensile strength and a matrix material in which the tubular textile is embedded to form a conduit having a bore and a sidewall substantially impermeable to liquid. The matrix material has a second tensile strength that is lower than the first tensile strength. The method for producing a composite lumen includes selecting yarns having a first tensile strength, selecting an elastomeric matrix material having a second tensile strength that is lower that the first tensile strength, forming a tubular textile of the yarns, and embedding the tubular textile in the matrix material to form a conduit having a bore and conduit walls that are substantially impermeable to liquid. The elastomeric matrix material is a biodegradable or bioresorbable polyester.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for producing a composite lumen, comprising the steps of:
 selecting yarns having a first tensile strength;   selecting an elastomeric matrix material having a second tensile strength that is lower that the first tensile strength;   forming a tubular textile of the yarns; and   embedding the tubular textile in the elastomeric matrix material to form a conduit having a bore and conduit walls that are substantially impermeable to liquid;   wherein the elastomeric matrix material is a biodegradable or bioresorbable polyester.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the step of selecting an elastomeric matrix material comprises selecting poly(glycerol sebacate). 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the step of forming a tubular textile comprises weaving, knitting, or braiding the yarns. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the step of forming a tubular textile comprises using a circular warp knitting process. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the step of selecting yarns comprises selecting biodegradable or bioresorbable yarns. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the step of selecting yarns comprises selecting yarns formed of at least one composition selected from the group consisting of polylactic acid thermoplastic, polyglycolide, poly-L-lactic acid, poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid), poly(glycerol sebacate), polycaprolactone, 2-pyran-2-one-4,6-dicarboxylic acid, poly-p-dioxanone, polydioxanone, poly(1,8-octanediol citrate), and collagen. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the step of embedding the textile comprises forming a conduit having a having a diameter of about 1 mm to about 6 mm. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the step of forming a tubular textile includes forming interstitial openings therein. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the step of selecting an elastomeric matrix material further comprises selecting the elastomeric matrix material to promote endogenous growth of mammalian neovascular tissue. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the step of selecting an elastomeric matrix material further comprises selecting the elastomeric matrix material to promote endogenous growth of mammalian neoartery tissue. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the step of embedding the tubular textile in the matrix material comprises infiltrating the tubular textile to form a radially distentive vascular graft. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the method configures the composite lumen to withstand physiological arterial pressure. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein composite lumen comprises a vascular graft. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the step of forming the tubular textile of the yarns comprises braiding the yarns. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the step of selecting yarns comprises selecting polyglycolide yarns. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the step of selecting yarns comprises selecting multi-filament yarns. 
     
     
         17 . A method of producing a composite lumen, comprising the steps of:
 selecting yarns having a first tensile strength;   selecting an elastomeric matrix material of a biodegradable or bioresorbable material, the elastomeric matrix material comprising poly(glycerol sebacate) and having a second tensile strength that is lower that the first tensile strength and which promotes endogenous growth of mammalian neovascular tissue;   forming a tubular textile of the yarns; and   embedding the tubular textile in the elastomeric matrix material to form the composite lumen, the elastomeric matrix material infiltrating the tubular textile to form a radially distentive vascular graft including a conduit having a bore with a diameter in the range of about 1 mm to about 6 mm and a sidewall substantially impermeable to liquid and configured to withstand physiological arterial pressure.   
     
     
         18 . A method for producing a composite lumen, comprising the steps of:
 selecting polyglycolide yarns having a first tensile strength;   selecting an elastomeric matrix material comprising poly(glycerol sebacate) and having a second tensile strength that is lower that the first tensile strength;   forming a braided tubular textile of the polyglycolide yarns; and   surrounding the braided tubular textile with an elastomeric matrix of the elastomeric matrix material to form a vascular graft of the composite lumen, the vascular graft having a bore with a diameter in the range of about 1 mm to about 6 mm and a radially distentive sidewall substantially impermeable to liquid and is configured to withstand physiological arterial pressure;   wherein the elastomeric matrix promotes endogenous growth of mammalian neoartery tissue.