Transcatheter stent and valve assembly

Abstract

Valves constructed from low porosity leaflets are disclosed. The valves disclosed herein may be integrated into a variety of structures, such as valved conduits and transcatheter stents, and may be constructed of one or more layers. Embodiments herein are also directed to methods of using the same and methods of making the same.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An conduit suitable for implantation into a human or animal, the conduit comprising at least two layers, wherein at least one layer comprises a material having a surface porosity of 1.9% to less than 15%. 
     
     
         2 . The conduit of  claim 1 , wherein at least one layer is plastically deformable. 
     
     
         3 . The conduit of  claim 1 , wherein at least one layer comprises a fluoropolymer. 
     
     
         4 . The conduit of  claim 1 , wherein at least one layer has a surface coating. 
     
     
         5 . The conduit of  claim 1 , wherein at least one layer is anisotropic. 
     
     
         6 . The conduit of  claim 1 , wherein the at least two layers are anisotropic. 
     
     
         7 . The conduit of  claim 1 , wherein at least one layer has an average pore area of less than or about 1 square micron. 
     
     
         8 . The conduit of  claim 1 , wherein at least one layer has an average pore diameter of less than or about 1 micron. 
     
     
         9 . The conduit of  claim 1 , wherein at least one layer has a thickness of less than or about 0.1 mm. 
     
     
         10 . The conduit of  claim 1 , wherein at least one layer is generally aligned along an axial direction of the conduit. 
     
     
         11 . The conduit of  claim 1 , wherein the at least two layers have a total thickness of less than or about 0.1 mm. 
     
     
         12 . The conduit of  claim 1 , wherein at least one layer has a suture retention strength from about 320 g to about 1,172 g. 
     
     
         13 . The conduit of  claim 1 , wherein the at least two layers are separably manufacturable. 
     
     
         14 . A conduit suitable for implantation into a human or animal, the conduit comprising at least three layers, wherein at least two layers comprise a material having a surface porosity of 1.9% to less than 15%, and wherein at least two layers have orientations that are offset by an angle of at least 10 degrees relative to each other. 
     
     
         15 . The conduit of  claim 14 , wherein the angle is from about 10 degrees to about 90 degrees.