METHOD FOR MAKING ePTFE AND STRUCTURE CONTAINING ePTFE SUCH AS VASCULAR GRAFT

摘要

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a method for making ePTFE and a structure containing ePTFE such as a vascular graft.;SOLUTION: The method for making a vascular graft includes providing a PTFE green tube extrudate (12) which is un-sintered, and then initially expanding the un-sintered extrudate (17) to produce a first node and fibril micro-structure therein. This is followed by heating the extrudate to raise the temperature thereof for a time period of sufficient duration so that the extrudate is partially sintered. The partially sintered extrudate is subsequently expanded (25) to make the vascular graft. The subsequent expansion produces a second node and fibril micro-structure in the vascular graft. The ePTFE made according to the method is fabricated into various structures (such as tube structures, filament structures, and sheet structures).;COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&INPIT